It was six years ago that a son of Scat Daddy wowed observers with a powerful debut victory at Santa Anita. Seventeen weeks later, Justify was Thoroughbred racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner. On Saturday, Just a Touch, a son of Justify who was impressive winning his debut Jan. 27 at Fair Grounds, attempts to join the Triple Crown trail when he starts in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. Despite his inexperience, Just a Touch could go favored in a field of 13 3-year-olds trying to accrue points to qualify for the $5 million Kentucky Derby on May 4. Though the Gotham hasn’t produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Secretariat in 1973, its one-turn mile configuration – and the 50 qualifying points to the winner that go with a victory – are why the race drew such a large field. Just a Touch was a pace-pressing presence when he romped in the slop by 4 1/2 lengths at Fair Grounds without feeling jockey Florent Geroux’s whip. That he won in the slop might be useful Saturday as there is an 80 percent chance of rain in the metropolitan area. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. “I do think he will stretch out. He’s got good size, lots of scope, plenty of leg,” said Brad Cox, the trainer of Just a Touch. “He is trying to accomplish a lot in a short period of time. This race makes the most sense for him.” Last year, Cox shipped Eyeing Clover in for the Gotham off two wins at Fair Grounds. He finished second as the favorite in a 14-horse field. “This horse obviously has to step up,” Cox said of Just a Touch. “His works have been very, very good since his debut. Once again, he’ll break and be somewhat forwardly placed.” Geroux rides Just a Touch from post 10. Cox has three other runners in the field. Bergen won the six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths and is 2 for 3 overall. “He ran a great race and from what we saw wants more ground and he is going to get it on Saturday,” said Cox, who has Manny Franco to ride from post 8. Lightline, a son of City of Light, finished third behind Uncle Heavy and El Grande O in the Grade 3 Withers at 1 1/8 miles. “I’m not certain about cutting him back,” Cox said. “If there ends up being a pace meltdown, he can definitely be there. But they’ll get away from him early on.” Air Cav, a son of Mitole, won his debut at Horseshoe Indianapolis in October and has since finished fifth in the Grade 1 Champagne and third, beaten 12 lengths, in the Winkfield. Deterministic, like Just a Touch, was a maiden winner in his lone start. However, that start came last August at Saratoga. Deterministic, a son of Liam’s Map, emerged from that win with an ankle chip that needed to be removed. Deterministic, who wintered in Florida, has been working with Pandagate, the impressive winner of Sunday’s Gander Stakes at Aqueduct by 5 1/2 lengths. “The fact the horse ran so well last weekend was a great boost,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “We know we can do it. It’s going to be a tougher race, bigger field, but you if you want to keep him eligible for the better races, you got to do it.” Joel Rosario, aboard for the maiden win, will be in town to ride Saturday. Clement also sends out Capital Idea, a son of Classic Empire who won his maiden in his second start, galloping to an 8 1/4-length win after he finished third in his debut four weeks earlier. “I thought he was more mature and he was improving,” Clement said. “Trevor [McCarthy] was riding him and has been working him. He knows him well and was very happy with his last breeze.” El Grande O, by virtue of his runner-up finishes in the Jerome and Withers, has 15 Kentucky Derby points. El Grande O ran in those races after making eight starts at 2 and then getting a two-month freshening. “The break was key to go ahead and campaign him as a 3-year-old the way we have,” said trainer Linda Rice, who added she was encouraged how well El Grande O ran in the nine-furlong Withers. “I thought he ran a great mile and an eighth,” she said. “We were hopeful, but you don’t know until you do it. He put in a nice effort that day; he got beat three inches. We’re getting a bigger field. I’m not sure exactly how we’re going to approach it, whether we’ll be on the lead or stalking the pace.” Kendrick Carmouche rides from post 7. Maximus Meridius, a son of Maximus Mischief trained by Butch Reid, is 2 for 3 and comes off an allowance win going 6 1/2 furlongs with blinkers added. Slider is in from Southern California for John Sadler to try to stretch out to a mile after finishing third behind Muth in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. Deposition and Khanate, fourth and fifth in the Withers, and the recent maiden winners Eliminate and Facenda complete the field. The Gotham goes as the finale on a 10-race that begins at 12:50 p.m. and also includes the $200,000 Busher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Handicap, and $150,000 Stymie Stakes. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.