Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes; one mile; Aqueduct; March 5, 2022 (50 Derby qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth) Winner: Morello, by Classic Empire Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Jose Lezcano Owner: Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor, and Diamond T Racing Beyer Speed Figure: 96 :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more After beating maidens going six furlongs and a lesser stakes field going seven furlongs, MORELLO moved into graded company, stretched out to a one-turn mile, and scored his third straight daylight victory, earning him the right to try two turns and 1 1/8 miles next month in the Wood Memorial. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t stretch out based on his pedigree, and he’s following the classic Asmussen pattern of making progress on the Beyer scale with every start. This was a career best, and the number was equal that earned by Simplification in the Fountain of Youth the same day at Gulfstream. Morello puts himself in the race with contending speed, and finishes off his races well. He’s yet to face any divisional leaders, but he’s done what’s asked thus far, and he’ll get a bigger test in the Wood. In this race, Morello veered in and bumped BOLD JOURNEY at the start, then used the advantage of a wide draw to gradually advance in the opening furlong to a stalking position, just behind and outside of pacesetting DEAN’S LIST. He stayed in that spot to the far turn while going well within himself, cut into the deficit while rounding the turn, was on even terms a furlong out, then drew away effortlessly with minimal encouragement, as Lezcano merely shook the reins at him. He was much the best, and looks to be the only one exiting this race with serious designs on a major 3-year-old Derby prep as well as the Derby itself. Dean’s List, who finished second, bumped lightly with LIFE IS GREAT leaving the gate, then used his speed to quickly take the lead in the opening furlong. He set a solid pace considering the speed of the surface this day, led into and then around the far turn, was pushed along before the quarter pole to try and fend off Morello, was a bit late changing leads while battling for the lead in upper stretch, and was no match for the winner late. His two prior races, both wins, were going six furlongs. He’s a sprinter, and trust his connections to manage him as such. GOLDEN CODE, who was third, was tossing his head about before the start but broke cleanly and in the opening furlong was gradually angled outside to sit in a stalking position tracking Morello. He raced three paths wide on the far turn, was under an aggressive ride midway on the turn to try and advance, never got close to threatening the top two, but gamely outfinished Life Is Great in a spirited stretch-long battle. Life Is Great, who was fourth, bumped lightly with Dean’s List leaving the gate, was shuffled back during the opening furlong and had to check, then advanced between rivals to end up stalled in traffic. He angled to the three path for clear sailing three furlongs out, advanced to a contending position while fanned to the four path outside Golden Code coming off the bend, but lost the stretch-long battle for third. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures It was a long ways back to the rest. GLIDER, who was fifth, bobbled leaving the gate and raced toward the rear of the field while toward the inside in the opening quarter-mile. He got a gorgeous, rail-hugging trip for much of the far turn, was tipped out late to come into the lane four paths wide while following Life Is Great, failed to change leads in upper stretch and flattened out badly. RUNNINSONOFAGUN, who was sixth, raced inside while mid-pack down the backstretch, was sent along to be right on the heels of Dean’s List heading into the far turn, but faded through the lane, wasting a gorgeous trip. FROMANOTHAMUTHA, who was seventh, broke best of all but then was outrun in the opening quarter-mile by Dean’s List and Morello. He raced between Runninsonofagun and Golden Code on the far turn, began his retreat well before the quarter pole, drifted out to the three path coming off the bend, and continued to fade while overmatched. NONEEDTOWORRY, who was eighth, veered out at the start to bump Bold Journey, dropped back to last in the opening furlong, raced between rivals heading to the far turn, but then sucked back, outrun throughout. Bold Journey, who was ninth, was squeezed between Morello and Noneedtoworry leaving the gate, passed a couple rivals in the opening furlong while racing somewhat erratically, then was kept three to four paths wide initially on the far turn with no sense of urgency from his rider. He cut to the inside midway on the turn and showed some spark, but failed to change leads and failed to sustain his run in a weird trip. He likes to be forwardly placed and the start did him no favors. This race looks ugly on paper and thus may provide some value next time, assuming a rider change and perhaps a return to New York-bred company. ROCKEFELLER, who finished last of 10, stumbled leaving the gate, raced mid-pack while outside rivals during the opening quarter-mile, was under urging a half-mile out while four paths wide, failed to respond, came off the bit, dropped back to last before the quarter pole, never in it. He’ll get a freshening.