Kentucky Derby trail returns to Aqueduct on Saturday
Kentucky Derby trail returns to Aqueduct on Saturday
By the New York Hot List // Thursday, February 4, 2021
The Grade 3, $250,000 Withers is the third stop on the New York road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Capo Kane, who was the winner of the Jerome at Aqueduct on New Year’s Day, was identified as the 3-1 morning line favorite.
Leading New York trainers Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown will send a recent maiden winner at Aqueduct onto the Derby trail. Pletcher has Overtook (6-1) and Brown trains Risk Taking (5-2), both stayed in New York following their late running victories seemingly with the Withers as a goal.
“There could be a good pace. Overtook wants to settle and make one run so we’ll allow him to do that,” said Pletcher.
Pletcher trained Withers winners Harlem Rocker (2008), Revolutionary (2013), and Far From Over (2015) while Brown looks for his first victory in this Grade 3.
Here are the Hot List picks for the Withers:
The $250,000 Withers (G3), Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 8.
The Withers (G3) drew a field of nine and there appears to be plenty of early speed in the field as these 3-year-olds will have to go nine furlongs, most of them for the first time. (3) Capo Kane won his last two starts by a combined 11 lengths while racing on the front end including in the Jerome at Aqueduct by more than six lengths. He will once again ship up from Parx Racing to seek 10 more Derby qualifying points. It will be interesting to see how much pace pressure he will actually face as these 3-year-olds try to get the distance. (6) Overtook broke his maiden at Aqueduct in his third career start with a closing move for Todd Pletcher. Pletcher kept him in training in New York basically targeting the Withers and the nine-furlong distance for his next start. The $1 million yearling purchase is bred to go long. (5) Risk Taking is very similar in that he was a maiden winner using a late run in his third start for Chad Brown while going long at the Big A. Brown also kept his horse in training at Belmont looking to race again in New York. (9) Eagle Orb was second to the top choice in the Jerome in his first try against open company. He is a stakes winner against state-breds with another place finish behind Brooklyn Strong.
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