The Withers – Grade III [KYD]
AQU   Race #2   1 1/16m   InDirt   Graded Stake
Purse $250.000  For Three Year Olds.

1 Southern Style, trained by Mb Stables
A son of the emerging sire Commanding he looked good but nothing special in his first two races but really hit his straps when stretched out over a trip. Taking his maiden with ease he then took the state bred Coronation Futurity but really burst into the TC picture when he came out as a three year old and won the grade three Jerome. He won that race by a cheeky half length from a favourable draw and once again gets into a nice spot here so theres no reason he cant run a big race again. I am not sure he is the best three year old in the Mb Stable but there is plenty in his favour if you fancy him for the win.

2 King Death Row, trained by Aer Stables
Ran better than his final placing suggested in the Brett Futurity and then franked that form with a good fourth in the DED Jackpot. A late season confidence building win in the statebred Runyon would have done his chances no harm and his sub 1.37 work at AQU a few days ago suggests he is ready for a big run.

3 Niner Forty Niner, trained by John Henry
After running in sprints his trainer threw him into the fire to run in his first route race in the grade one Champagne but his stamina looked like it gave out as he weakened off the front to be a well beaten ninth. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and looking back it seems the run wasnt due to any stamina weakness but in fact was down to the rather ridiculous wide gate speed push. How do we know that? Because in his very next start he thundered home over a furlong further looking like he could run ten miles. That race was the grade two Remsen and since then he has clocked some of the fastest one mile dirt works by any three year old. He looks like a TC hope to me and i am liking his chances of getting John Henry off to a great start to 2017.

4 Avoid It, Mb Stables
Won his maiden at FL and then ran a one paced fifth in an ungraded stakes race. If the past has some influence on this result then this colt who clocked a sub 1.37 work this year would be a nailed on winner.

5 Darth Andedudu, trained by Diablo Diablo
Took on some good company last year and ran pretty well when sixth in the Iroquois and fifth in the DED Jackpot but seems to lack a telling turn of foot at this level.

6 Lyft, trained by D J C Racing Stables
Took a sprint maiden at TP on the sixth of January and though he looks a promising type this may come a bit soon on his career.

7 Remember The Mummy, trained by LionKing Stables
Took a while to break his maidens but despite four failed attempts he has never finished outside the top three. He deserves a crack at this level but i cant see him making a dent.

8 Not Perfect, trained by Kopites
Looked strong when he made all to win The Nashua but there werent too many excuses when he got beaten in The Remsen last time out when fifth beaten two lengths by Niner Forty Niner. The only excuse i can think of is that the run was only three weeks after his Nashua win and may have come a bit soon and his work on the 11th January supports that theory. Kopites forked out $300 for this gelding and he wouldnt do that without good reason so i am expecting a big run from him today.

9 Farley On Wheels, trained by Tiratzo
Won his maiden on debut and then added an allowance before taking on the grade two Nashua. He ran on nicely that day without really getting to the winner finishing third beaten two lengths. There is no doubt that this one has plenty of ability and will be suited by the trip but he is a bit hard to weigh up against the best of these with a wide draw to boot. I would be happy to say he can finish top four.

10 Shrek, trained by Crocker Gqs
Won his maiden well enough and managed a sub 1.37 work last time so is clearly good enough to take his chance but i feel he may find a few too good today.

11 Pip Mia, trained by A And I Stables
This son of Pip Boy ran up an unbeaten sequence of three culminating in a win in the ungraded Loyalty Stakes. Tested against graded company in the Futurity he was running on well at the end to be sixth beaten less than a length. He was bought for $110 after that run and thrown into the form race for third The Jerome. He ran on the pace eventually battling on into third, fairly beaten but nevertheless a good run which puts him right at the sharp end for this race. We have seen what a huge difference the wide gate can make in large fields and that is the big minus against his name but being an on pace type he may be suited if he can clear the field quickly and get a soft lead.

12 Prince Absolutely, trained by Grimley
Didnt set the world alight in his first three races but improved a lot between October and January and came out as a three year old to take his maiden in style. He is working well but a lack of experience and the wide gate may be too much to overcome.

SUMMARY
I think the Jerome form may be the key to this race so i am putting Niner Forty Niner on top with Southern Style chasing him home. Thinking outside the box for the trifecta then Farley On Wheels or Not Perfect may add some spice to the odds.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES