By In terms of Kentucky Derby prep races, this weekend may be one for the “chalks”, with some solid Grade 1 winners set to take the stage. The $300K Gotham Stakes has one in Free Drop Billy, who came in second in the Holy Bull Stakes last month to Audible, who himself ran a very quick 1:41.91 for 1 1/16 mi. on dirt at Gulfstream. In the Kentucky Derby futurers wagering, Audible at 13-1 is currently third, behind McKinzie at 9-1 and Bolt’ d’Oro at 7-1. Passing on the Fountain of Youth Stakes last weekend, Dale Romans trained, Free Drop Billy, is the favorite in the Gotham according to the Handicap Wizard, with implied odds around 3-1. The horse has an edge in speed, while ranking close to the top in winning percentage after winning the G1 Breeders Futurity last October over the same distance of 1 1/16 mi. Romans has called Free Drop Billy a “versatile, push button horse”, who should have no trouble cutting back to the 1 mi. distance. Post-time for race 10 at Aqueduct is 5:42 p.m. EST.
Pro-Handicap Analytics 