Because it turned out, the Withers Stakes (G3) was far more tough to succeed in. Hit Present than the race itself
Teacher Brad Cox after correctly selecting to scratch Gary and Mary West’s purebred son sugar voyage January 28 Southwest Stakes (G3), avoiding Arabian Knight winner of the competition Oaklawn Park February 4 For Withers, the journey from Arkansas to New York was problematic.
Moreover some delays in arranging a struggle, arctic situations Aqueduct Racetrack It pressured the New York Racing Affiliation to cancel the race and shift the $250,000 Withers to February 11.
Nonetheless, none of those delays bothered the Hit Present within the least, and there was a very pleased ending as he nervously backed off and declared a convincing 5 1/2-length victory.Arctic Conceitedness In preparation for the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds in Massive A.
“Perhaps it was laborious to get him there final week, however general he did, and I am glad we seemed for the audible and did not run within the Southwest,” Cox mentioned over the telephone. “He did properly. It did not damage to delay the race for every week. He ran very well and I am pleased with him.”
Because of Withers being a part of the Highway to the Kentucky Derby franchise, his debut victory introduced the Hit Present to the height of the chase for Run for the Roses. With many miles to go earlier than the primary Saturday of Might, gathering 20 qualifying factors put the Hit Present fourth on the leaderboard within the struggle for one of many 20 spots within the beginning gate for the Might 6 opening leg of the Triple Crown.
Contemplating how final yr’s Withers winner was caught by the Preakness winner Early Voting He scored a powerful nine-round two-round win in simply his fourth begin in February, talking properly for the Hit Present’s prospects in key checks just like the $750,000 Wooden Memorial (G2) on April 8, once more within the Massive A.
“We knew originally that he would stretch in two corners and provides his finest and I am pleased with what he is achieved. He must get stronger and proceed his march in the direction of the Kentucky Derby.” Cox talked about a colt who declared his third win in 4 begins and acquired an non-compulsory two-turn mile allowance on December 17 at his ultimate begin at Oaklawn. “I am going to speak to the West group what I will do subsequent, but when we keep in New York it is in all probability Wooden.”
Cox additionally recorded what it was prefer to be the son of a 2nd yr winner. tapit mare Actress offers Hit Present the right distance pedigree.
“He is a Tapit colt and that streak may be very robust in New York. They run properly on all tracks and particularly the Belmont Stakes (G1). He is a superb colt and is distanced, so the extra the higher,” mentioned Cox. . 5 Derby prep wins from the Hit Present quartet, on the spot espresso (32 factors), Jace’s Means (15) and Order of Victory (10).
Arctic Conceitedness, purebred son of Chester and Mary Broman Iced Who was the 7-5 second decide, set the early fractions of :23.53 and :48.09, main by half size with an 80-1 shot Show Proper . Jockey Manny Franco, in the meantime, was content material to maintain the Hit Present on monitor for the fifth spherical earlier than taking a detour on the ultimate flip and difficult Arctic Conceitedness.
The 6-5 favourite ($4.60) took the lead on the sixteenth pole and went underneath the wire in 1:54.71.
“He was there for me when it was time to behave,” Franco mentioned. “I needed to pull it up (whereas galloping) to cease it.”
Coach Linda Rice had initially deliberate to focus on Wooden at 1 1/8 mph on the Aqueduct together with her New York-raised Arctic Conceitedness, which completed second within the Remsen Stakes (G2) final yr. Nonetheless, after Saturday’s loss, the subsequent March 4 Gotham Stakes (G3) can be in a spin mile, she mentioned.
“One other good race,” he mentioned of a colt who had two wins and 4 seconds in six begins, scoring 8 Derby factors and giving him 16 factors. One flip mile and as a substitute of ready for the Grove we are able to run in Gotham, as a result of that is likely to be his finest distance and we’ll take it from there.”
Common Banker positioned third (6 factors, 9 complete), 6 1/4 lengths behind Hit Present, adopted by Andiamo and Firenze (4, 7) and Show Proper (2).
Inputs: Withers S. (G3)
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, February 11, 2023, Race 9
- III. Diploma
- 1 1/8m
- Filth
- $250,000
- 3 years outdated
- 16:27 (native)
#Present #Standard #Winner #Delayed #Withers #Stakes
