3-Year-Old Sprinters Compete in Jimmy Winkfield on Saturday at Aqueduct

By NY Hot List Staff | January 25, 2024

As much as 3-year-olds are now in the spotlight, a lesser appreciated side of the 3-year-old division will be on display Saturday at Aqueduct. The Jimmy Winkfield Stakes is for 3-year-old sprinters who may be the stars later in the year in seven-furlong Grade 1 stakes such as the Woody Stephens and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. The six-furlong stakes drew a field of five relatively evenly matched 3-year-olds.

The $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield at Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 3, 12:46 pm EST.

Last year the Jimmy Winkfield was won by Drew’s Gold in what was the third win in an undefeated streak that would last another race with a victory in the Gold Fever. He would then run second in the Woody Stephens (G1) at Belmont Park.

(3) Stolen Music broke his maiden in his third try but did it by almost two lengths while cutting back to a sprint distance after his first two starts were going long. The first was on the turf where he missed by a neck to a talented horse in Agate Road and then was third after setting the pace in a race that was meant for the grass. Trainer Linda Rice won the Winkfield in 2020 and 2003. (5) Bergen won his first start at Keeneland for Brad Cox and then rallied from well back against a big field at Churchill Downs to get up for second going a mile. (2) Iridescent is the only horse in the field that has won twice. He was a debut winner while racing for Cox in Kentucky. Cox then sent him to Aqueduct where he ran second and got claimed for $50,000 from an optional claiming allowance by David Jacobson. He kicked clear to win an allowance by more than three lengths in his first start for the new trainer. (4) Air Cav is another Cox runner that won his debut and that was at Horseshoe Indiana in August. He was then a distant fifth in the Champagne (G1).

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