Eddington, favored at 6-5 off two monster races at Gulfstream Park, was supposed to be the top gun in yesterday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Gotham mile at the Big A. But a different Gulfstream shipper, Saratoga County, proved best in New York’s first important Kentucky Derby prep, romping home 21/4 lengths ahead of 8-1 California invader Pomeroy. Eddington checked in another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Deputy Storm, who set a furious pace (:21.4, :43.3) aided by a stiff wind blowing down the backside, finished fourth. Redskin Warrior, the 5-2 second choice, flattened out badly after a wide trip and checked home fifth, eliminating him as a Triple Crown prospect.

The final time, after a sizzling six furlongs in 1:08, was 1:35.2, the second-slowest Gotham at the distance in the last eight runnings, but again the wind – blowing into the faces of the horses down the lane – came into play.

Saratoga County, ridden by Javier Castellano, was coming off two solid sprint efforts at Gulfstream, a second in the Spectacular Bid and a fast-finishing third in the Hutcheson. But he hadn’t won a race in four starts since breaking his maiden for a $75,000 claiming tag last summer at Saratoga.

Never far back in the Gotham, Saratoga County rallied inside on the turn, swung out to collar Pomeroy a furlong out and drew clear to pay $11.40. The son of Valid Expectations could make his next start in the mile-and-a-sixteenth Lexington at Keeneland on April 17, but trainer George Weaver indicated he might skip the May 1 Run for the Roses.

“His pedigree doesn’t exactly scream ‘mile-and-a-quarter,’ ” Weaver said.

Eddington, bumped hard at the break, was last early in the field of eight, rallied between horses on the turn but lacked the needed late kick.

“He was late switching leads and wasn’t able to sustain his momentum,” said trainer Mark Hennig. “Two turns is better for him. We’ll come back in the Wood Memorial [April 10 at Aqueduct].”

*

Trainer Nick Zito’s Birdstone, ranked at or near the top of most Derby polls all winter, turned in the worst effort of his career in yesterday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Lane’s End at Turfway Park, finishing fifth over a wet, sealed track he obviously disliked.

The gate-to-wire winner at 16-1 was New York shipper Sinister G, who isn’t nominated to the Triple Crown. Sinister G was ridden by Paul Toscano and is owned by John Toscano 3d, both sons of the colt’s trainer, John Toscano Jr.