A field of seven three-year-olds go to the post on Saturday in the $250,000 Withers with Road to the Kentucky Derby points up for grabs.
The Rick Dutrow trained Captain Cook was installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite. The son of Practical Joke was a smart looking maiden winner in the slop over the Aqueduct main track on Dec. 28.
The Withers is a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race with the top five finishers earning 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points toward the Run for the Roses.
The Withers is one of three stakes on the Saturday card at the Big A. A field of seven go seven furlongs in the $175,000 Toboggan. The third race on the card is the $125,000 Ruthless for three-year-olds fillies going seven furlongs which drew a field of five.
Dutrow sounded confident that Captain Cook can move forward off his maiden score on Dec. 28. “He ran big. We were very, very happy with his race,” said Dutrow. “That is why we are pointing him to a big race now, because he was very impressive with what we saw from him. Manny was happy with the horse, excited, and liked the feel the horse gave him.”
The Brad Cox trained Uncle Jim may have a say in the proceedings. The colt is coming off a third-place finish in his first start against winners.
First post at Aqueduct on Saturday is 12:40 ET and the Withers is the seventh race on the card with a post time of 3:46 ET.
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Let’s head out to Aqueduct for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Aqueduct Race 7 The Withers Post time 3:46 ET
4 Uncle Jim 3-1
5 Mo Quality 3-1
6 Captain Cook 5-2
1 Global Steve 6-1
Uncle Jim
The Brad Cox trainee makes his stakes debut here after a third last out against Alw-1 optional claimers over the Big A main track in his first start since his debut win. The colt tracked the early pace and did not have enough punch left late in a third-place finish. The winner Cyclone State went gate to wire and then returned to win the Jerome in his next outing on Jan. 4.
The $240,000 Keeneland purchase has enough pedigree to handle the added furlong, by City of Light out of a Tiznow mare. His 68 Beyer last out sure seems light. However, three exited that race to run back and they improved their Beyers by 10, 3, and 6 points. The colt appears to have plenty of upside, and we should see it here.
Mo Quality
This colt is coming off a solid runner up finish to Coal Battle in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park, beaten four lengths. He was a neck ahead of third place finisher Kale’s Angel who came back to win the Renaissance at Oaklawn in his next outing on Jan. 18. The sixth-place finisher Hot Gunner was also a next out winner, taking an Alw-2L race at Sam Houston on Jan. 19.
The Davis trainee earned a solid number two back at Churchill Downs breaking his maiden at 6 ½ furlongs in his second career start. He should get a good tracking trip under Carmouche and is one of three I here that has experience going two turns.
Captain Cook
The Dutrow trainee stretches out to a route after an impressive 9 ¼ length win in the slop breaking his maiden going seven furlongs in his second career start. He was sixth in his debut at Churchill downs while in the Casse barn. Dutrow is 16% winners moving runners from sprint to route. A logical threat here but the 5-2 morning line is a bit on the light side.
