Vyjack meets Overanalyze in Gotham Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Ozone Park, NY (Sports Network) - Jerome Stakes winner Vyjack returns Saturday to Aqueduct versus 11 other 3-year-olds in the $400,000 Gotham Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile stakes is the last local prep for the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6.

Winning the Gotham will be worth 50 points as part of the Kentucky Derby points system to determine the field for the 139th Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 4.

Owned by Pick Six Racing, Vyjack is undefeated in three starts for $202,200. The gelding will start from post 8 on Saturday with Joel Rosario getting the mount for the first time.

Vyjack, trained by Rudy Rodriguez, captured the Jerome on Jan. 5 as the even- money favorite versus seven. He won his debut race on Nov. 10 and took the Traskwood Stakes at Aqueduct as the 1-2 favorite.

"I'm very lucky to have him. The competition is going to get tougher, so he'll have to keep stepping up," said Rodriguez about Vyjack. "It looks like he's coming into the race in good shape."

Mike Repole's Overanalyze makes his 2013 debut in the Gotham. Another of trainer Todd Pletcher's 3-year-olds, the colt will be ridden by John Velazquez from the far outside post.

After winning his career opener, Overanalyze was fourth in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga but came back to win the Futurity at Belmont Park on Sept. 30. After finishing third in the Iroquois at Churchill Downs on Oct. 28, he rebounded to win the Remsen at Aqueduct to complete his 2012 season.

Overanalyze has earned $344,381 with three wins in five starts.

Here is the field for the Gotham in post position order: Champion Boy, Eddie Castro; Escapefromreality, David Cohen; Ore Pass, Julian Pimentel; Amerigo Vespucci, Erick Rodriguez; Transparent, Irad Ortiz Jr.; Now and Then, Junior. Alvarado; Siete De Oros, Angel Arroyo; Vyjack, Joel Rosario; Elnaawi, Channing Hill; Sky Captain, Miguel Mena; West Hills Giant, Jose Espinoza and Overanalyze, John Velazquez.

Transparent and Now and Then will be coupled as an entry.

The Gotham has an approximate post-time of 5:02 p.m. (ET).