AQU 2      The Withers (GIII)

              $250.000      3yo       1 1/8m   Dirt       122lbs

The Road to the KYD gets a serious boost as we take a look at the field for the 2020 Withers (GIII) to be run at a mile and an eighth on the main track at AQU.

I’m going to the outside for my choices in this one and will land on Sars for the top spot.  There just isn’t anything bad to say about him, winning two graded races over this track, looking like a monster.  He has tactical speed so the traffic shouldn’t be an issue for him and I think he wins this to keep his skein going.  I’ll go right next door and put Lake Success in the second spot, coming off of that second in the Jerome, over this same surface.  He’s going to need clear running in the late stages unless they change tactics, but I think he’s a horse on the improve and should fight his way into the photo.  It looks like a great race…  meet at the rail with a cold snack!

Here’s The Field –

Broke maiden last out at GP over a muddy strip at a mile and a sixteenth.  Although lightly raced, I like his distance races and he looks like the kind of horse that loves a route of ground.  Can he make his presence known today?

Tired to be sixth in his only stakes effort, and that was coming off of a maiden win at GG going a mile.  It’s a sharp outfit and they usually don’t waste effort or time unless they think they have something, so maybe he improves today.

Nice win at CD in the KY Jockey Club, coming off of the fifth on BC Day, which was his only off-the-board race, ever.  Four wins and a second from six starts, so you know he can run.

Back to back wins breaking maiden at FL then taking a state-bred Alw race at Tam in his most recent.  That was at a mile and a sixteenth, so he likes the distance, but was on the grass so there is some question.  If he runs his race, he should be in the mix.

Broke maiden two back at a mile and a sixteenth and was third beaten a long neck at GP in his most recent, at the same distance.  He seems to like a route of ground but has to show more than that Coronation Futurity race back in Nov.

Broke maiden at FG in his most recent and has never been off of the board in three starts including a just-miss effort vs. stakes horses in the Kingarvie, north of the border.  He may be a horse that could pull an upset at a big price.

Bounced back nicely to score a nice purse over this track last out taking NY-bred stakes horses to task in the Great White Way.  He’s graded placed as well and was sixth on BC Day so he has a ton of talent.

Won the Mucho Macho Man at GP, coming from well off of the pace in that mile stakes and won at 27/1 odds.  He likes to come from left field and fly late, which is all the more reason to like him today with the added furlong for him.  Give him a look.

Sure does look the part coming off of back to back stakes scores over this track winning the Nashua (GIII) then the Remsen (GII).  If he repeats either of those efforts, I think he gets his picture taken again.

Just missed in the Jerome over this track in him most recent, and he encountered a bit of traffic that day that may have cost him the win.  He’s another that loves to come at the late and could make a fight of it.

Back to back wins including a last out stakes score taking the King Glorious Stakes at LA passing a bunch of horses in the late stages of that one.  He broke maiden in wire-to-wire fashion so he seems adaptable to the conditions and may be a horse to keep an eye on.

COZMAN Picks  9 / 10        Willie’s Green Card  9 / 5       Scotty  9 / 11 / 10

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES