The Withers (Grade 2) (KYD)- $250.000 Purse
AQU- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
February 4, 2023

Back in November, More Twist showed up in a maiden claiming race for a $12.500 tag. He hadn’t done much in his two previous starts, and no one would have an interest in claiming him that day. More Twist would go on to win that race and has left that class far behind. He’d win an ungraded stake, and now in the Withers, he’d win yet again! Now, this former low claimer will likely be appearing in the KYD in three months! Congratulations to Team 7 Illusions, who has done a great job with him and earned his first Withers victory. Jockey R A Vazquez is also a first-time winner. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:48.22, a middle of the road time for this race. Here’s a look at it!

(1/2 Mile- :47.07)- The filly Scarlett Dream, from Arindel, jumps out to the early lead and quickly opens up a two-length cushion on the rest of the field as they move into the clubhouse turn. She would continue to hold this advantage into the backstretch, but by this point a couple rivals were just a length behind her. One of them is the Nakamura Stables- trained Informed Minister who prevailed in an early battle over Rock Creek’s Mahogany Maragh, who is now fourth. Running in third is Phalanx, and the Bigchief Stables entry was not initially at the front but pushed forward within the opening turn. Preternatural is in striking range in the fifth spot for Jerry Garcia Racing. Behind him, there is about a length and a half to TwinTowersRacing’s Majestic Chai, and nearby to him is our eventual winner, More Twist, from Team 7 Illusions. He is content to run in the middle of the field right now, about four lengths from the front with a good lane to work with. War Of Backroads (Fractious) is nearby on the rail, then it’s Velocicoaster (Mo Mentum Farm) and Fear Me Not (Mb Stables). Trailing are Mountain Top (La Canada Racehorses) and Twin Rackets (Alydar Stables).

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.33)- We head down the backstretch and move into the turn with Scarlett Dream keeping the field behind her. Informed Minister is still a length back and has not made a bigger push for the lead. Neither has Phalanx or Preternatural, who are third and fourth. Moving into the fifth spot now, thanks to handling the turn exceptionally well, is More Twist. He’s gained ground on the leader and is now about two and a half lengths from the front, and also note that he gained about a length and a half here on War Of Backroads, who had been running much closer to him earlier. Mahogany Maragh, who was good earlier has dropped out of it, and no one further back had made their push as of yet.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- While the post time favorite, Scarlett Dream, is still the leader, those that put money on her are getting nervous now. Her lead has been reduced to about a half-length as Informed Minister pulls right up beside her. But that one was not the bigger looming threat, as More Twist continued to handle the turn like a boss and was getting ready to pass both of them. It didn’t look like it would take long to do it within the stretch, either. Preternatural was still in the mix and on the rail, not to be forgotten about as a contender, either. Phalanx was trying to keep up, but behind him was War Of Backroads, who had to come off of the rail and swing to the outside in order to make his move. This naturally took valuable time to make up the ground to More Twist that he conceded to him in the turn. Meanwhile, Fear Me Not was starting to grab some attention as he tried to make a move from the back, but it would take a massive effort at this point to get More Twist. Not much was going on after him.

(Finish- 1:48.22)- More Twist captures the lead early in the stretch, and he had plenty left in the tank to pull away from the field with authority. He would go on to score a length and a half victory, a very impressive effort indeed, and certainly also grabbing confidence that he’d be able to handle the longer distances of the TC. War Of Backroads should not be lost in the shuffle here, and was a solid second, with Fear Me Not getting up for third. Preternatural ran consistently from start to finish to be fourth, getting by Scarlett Dream and the late running Twin Rackets. Informed Minister was flat in the stretch, but does defeat Mountain Top, Velocicoaster, Phalanx, Majestic Chai, and Mahogany Maragh.

About The Winner- More Twist, trained by Team 7 Illusions and ridden to victory by R A Vazquez, is a three-year-old gelding by I Want More and is out of El Gran Twist. He was bred in California by Team 7 Illusions as a third quarter two-year-old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in five starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $214.640.

Track: Fast
Time: :47   1:11¹  1:36   1:48¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 1 Paid 379.20
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 1 – 5 Paid 1,242.80

Scratched: Energizer Party, Sinning Black

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES