Withers (G3) Offers 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby Points To Top-Five Finishers

UPDATE: JAN 27 - Project Ace, entered in Saturday's Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, was also cross-entered in Saturday's Withers Stakes at AQU. He is expected to run in Holy Bull Stakes, per trainer Dale Romans.

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Schoolyardsuperman (Hit The Bid Racing Stables) impressed to break his maiden last out and will make his stakes debut in the Listed $200,000 Withers Stakes, a nine-furlong route for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, January 31.

The Withers, a prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, will award the top-five finishers 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points, respectively, towards the prestigious Grade 1 test in May at Churchill Downs.

Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, Schoolyardsuperman will not only be tested stepping up in class off his 5 3/4-length victory in a one-turn mile maiden on December 6 here, but also traveling two turns for the first time. The Practical Joke gray's two prior starts were sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs here, clipping heels and falling midway through his September debut ahead of a second to Epic Summer in October.

The Withers is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race card, which also includes the Listed $150,000 Toboggan [Race 2], the $135,000 Ruthless [Race 4] and the re-scheduled $135,000 Ladies [Race 6]. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

In his win, Schoolyardsuperman [post 1, Manny Franco] pressed the pace under returning rider Manny Franco before lengthening his margin at every point of call en route to an easy score in a final time of 1:36.68, registering a career and field-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Schoolyardsuperman, a $150,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, was bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm. The Lexington-based farm bred Reincarnate [13th], a participant in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, and hopes to add another Classic contender to its resume in Schoolyardsuperman.

"He was a very good looking horse from the start," said Peter O'Callaghan, owner of Woods Edge Farm, regarding Schoolyardsuperman. "A big, strapping gray horse. Correct horse. He moved well. He was imposing. A very, very good-looking horse. He looks like a good prospect. Whether he can win the Withers or not, I don't know, but he looks like a horse with some decent standard."

Schoolyardsuperman is out of the winning Tiznow mare Tizlegal, who Woods Edge Farm purchased for $25,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Tizlegal is a half-sister to reigning Grade 2 Carter-winner Crazy Mason, out of the graded stakes-placed Maria's Mon mare Izshelegal.

"Tizlegal is very Maria's Mon, a real quality gray mare. She is more Maria's Mon than Tiznow. That is a nice family, a young active family, with some decent back family," O'Callaghan said. "Crazy Mason has come up in the meantime, but I just knew that family was current, always stuff going on and we got lucky there."

O'Callaghan spoke on the pairing between Practical Joke and Tizlegal, who has emerged as a classy broodmare having also produced the stakes-placed 4-year-old Kantharos filly Velvet Devil.

"The main factors were physical, speed and price," O'Callaghan said. "I thought this was a very good physical mating. Practical Joke is a very good-looking horse. He is a big, strong horse with a decent hip on him. She [Tizlegal] is about 16.2 hands, very refined quality, Maria's Mon type. He is a very solid, proven sire. He has made a significant jump in the last few years."

Brown will also send out Three Chimneys Farm's Kentucky homebred Ottinho [post 6, Flavien Prat], a second-out local maiden winner by Quality Road that has been followed intently as a half-brother to Hall of Famer Gun Runner.

Ottinho, over course and distance last out on December 31, led through three quarters in 1:14.87 under returning rider Flavien Prat after breaking from the rail. The bay was met with a challenge from stablemate Hadrian's Wall, who stuck his head in front at the eighth-pole, but Ottinho battled back to the inside and prevailed by a head in a final time of 1:54.07.

Ottinho was previously a rallying third to next-out stakes-placed Enforced Agenda in his one-turn mile debut in November here after hitting the gate at the start and traveling 7th-of-8 through the half-mile. His Beyers jumped from 71 to 82 over the course of his two starts and he certainly has the pedigree as a half-brother to Gun Runner and a full-brother to 2024 Grade 3 Comely-winner Pretty Ana, out of the Grade 2-winning Giant's Causeway mare Quiet Giant.

Brown seeks his third Withers victory to go along with Risk Taking [2021] and future Preakness-winner Early Voting [2022].

Cash is King and LC Racing's Pennsylvania homebred Mailata [post 5, Mychel Sanchez] caught eyes when dominating the seven-furlong Parx Future Stars by 19 lengths on December 30 at its namesake oval. Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., the Maximus Mischief bay took on just two rivals and was a close third through the opening quarter-mile, but took over from there and romped under returning rider Mychel Sanchez.

"He didn't come away real clean, but I liked the way he rated behind horses. When the jock asked him, he moved forward handily, so he was real on top of things that day," said Reid, Jr., who has won the Withers with Afleet Again [2010] and Uncle Heavy [2024].

Mailata's final time of 1:27.20 earned a 73 Beyer, lower than the 80 he received previously for a 3 1/2-length pacesetting score in the seven-furlong Pennsylvania Nursery versus fellow state-breds on November 26 at Parx Racing. He was under wraps in his recent effort and improved to 3-for-3 since adding blinkers for a third-out graduation going a two-turn mile in October at Parx.

"It really seems to have sharpened up his focus and he's really paying attention to what he's doing on the track," Reid, Jr. said of the blinkers.

Mailata has made all five career starts at Parx, finishing third in his August debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs ahead of a fourth going 6 1/2 furlongs one month later. He is a half-brother to stakes-winner Jeanne Marie out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Bouquet of Gold and his second dam is Grade 3-winner Bouquet Booth.

Stony Pointe Stables' Fourth and One [post 2, Jaime Rodriguez] was dual stakes-placed before his last-out fourth start graduation with blinkers off in a one-turn mile maiden versus fellow New York-breds on December 5 here. Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the Maxfield gelding was second on debut in the six-furlong Funny Cide in August at Saratoga Race Course, ahead of a maiden second at the same distance at Belmont at the Big A and a third in the one-mile state-bred Sleepy Hollow here.

"He's had some ability since he came in last summer," Englehart said. "He's a horse that has had to mature a little bit and grow up as far as training and race scenarios go. I think taking the blinkers off has helped him. I like where he is at and I'm excited to see what he can do this weekend."

Fourth and One, bred in the Empire State by Chesapeake Farm, Rockridge Stud, Tamie Semler and John McConnell, was purchased for $240,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Mixed Sale. He is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Wajeeha, a half-sister to multiple group-placed Zainhom.

"I thought he probably would want to stretch out," said Englehart. "He has made the transition from six furlongs to further in his starts. I'm not overly concerned about this distance, but obviously he hasn't gone a mile and an eighth yet. I thought this was the right opportunity for him."

Bran Jam Stable and David Clark's Star Sweeper [post 8, Angel Rodriguez] is cross-entered in the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid on Saturday at Parx. Trained by Louis Linder, Jr., the Rock Your World gray stalked to a 2 1/4-length victory in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer last out on December 24 at Parx.

Star Sweeper graduated on debut in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on September 20 at Parx ahead of off-the-board stakes tries when fifth in the two turn-mile Rocky Run in October at Delaware Park and eighth in the six-furlong James F. Lewis, III in November at Laurel Park.

Rounding out the field are a pair of maiden winners including the Florida-based Project Ace [post 3, Corey Lanerie], cross-entered in Saturday's Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park for Eclipse Award-winner Dale Romans and the New York-bred Talk to Me Jimmy [post 4, Ruben Silvera] for conditioner Rudy Rodriguez; as well as the maiden Grittiness [post 7, Ricardo Santana, Jr., blinkers OFF] for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher - a three-time Withers winner with Harlem Rocker [2008], Revolutionary [2013] and Far From Over [2015].

Fourth and One looking to score 20 Kentucky Derby points in $200K Withers Stakes

Dr. William Baxter, Jr.'s Stony Pointe Stables are going for it with New York-bred Fourth and One in the Listed $200,000 Withers on January 31, at Aqueduct Racetrack . The nine-furlong route for sophomores offers 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the Maxfield gelding removed blinkers to graduate at fourth asking on December 5 here in a one-turn mile maiden versus fellow state-breds. There, the dark bay dueled for the lead with Max Money through a half-mile in 46.67 seconds before putting that rival away and opening up a five-length lead at the stretch call en route to a 7 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:37.46.

"We're very much looking forward to the Withers," Baxter, Jr. said. "In his last race, Jeremiah took his blinkers off, and he rated very nicely and relaxed on the backside. He finished with great interest and won easily in the end.

"He's matured quite a bit in his racing style and that's what leads us to be optimistic going forward," Baxter, Jr. added. "Jeremiah has always felt he would look forward to longer distances and he certainly demonstrated that last time out."

The winning effort earned a career-best 76 Beyer Speed Figure, and the result was flattered when runner-up Royal Riddle returned to win next out here on January 3 in a state-bred maiden sprint [75 Beyer].

Fourth and One breezed a half-mile in 48.11 seconds Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track in his fifth work back since his impressive maiden score.

"He is athletic, continues to mature and seems to get bigger every time I see him. Physically, he resembles his stallion quite closely," Baxter, Jr. said. "Jeremiah has done a tremendous job with our horse. He was a strong personality when he first arrived in New York and Jeremiah has turned a raw talent into a potentially serious racehorse."

Fourth and One kept good company in his first three outings, all against fellow state-breds, including on debut when a pacesetting four-length second to Minorinconvenience in the six-furlong Funny Cide on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course.

He followed with a pair of efforts at Belmont at the Big A - both won by the well-regarded Bravaro - when second in a six-furlong maiden sprint on September 28 and third on October 25 traveling a one-turn mile in the Sleepy Hollow.

Fourth and One, bred in the Empire State by Chesapeake Farm, Rockridge Stud, Tamie Semler and John McConnell, was purchased for $240,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Mixed Sale. Out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Wajeeha, Fourth and One subsequently RNA'd for $95,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

"This particular horse was purchased as a short yearling with a thought that we were going to pinhook him. A certain portion of the pinhooking partnership broke off to take this horse to the races. Sometimes, better lucky than good," said Baxter, Jr., with a laugh.

The 63-year-old Baxter, Jr., a retired oral and maxillofacial surgeon based in Michigan, is thriving in his second career, overseeing a number of bloodstock interests.

"This is the first horse for this partnership," Baxter, Jr. said. "There are nine of us - all folks from Western Michigan that have joined me in a pinhooking partnership and from that have evolved some other partnerships, including this racehorse partnership. Most of what we had done previously was pinhooking weanlings to yearlings and now we have several broodmares in partnership in Lexington."

Baxter, Jr., who grew up showing horses, said he caught the racing bug when Secretariat won the 1973 Kentucky Derby. He was previously involved with horses via the Team Valor syndicate, including having a small share in stakes-winner First Premio, who won an optional-claiming tilt at Churchill Downs on the 2021 Kentucky Derby undercard.

Also among the partnerships managed by Baxter, Jr. is the dual stakes-placed First Division, a 4-year-old Omaha Beach colt trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by Baxter with Deann Baer and Brett Logan.

"First Division is down at Fair Grounds right now. He just got beat at the wire in The Coach Overnight a couple weeks back at Oaklawn," Baxter, Jr. said. "He ran in the Arkansas Derby last year but unfortunately had a quarter-crack open up during the race and we had to give him some time off.

"We have bits and pieces of a number of horses with the Legion Bloodstock guys, and they've had tremendous early success with Drexel Hill in the Oaks and some promising 2-year-olds," he added. "They're great horsemen and tremendous people, so it's fun to do partnership stuff with them."

Baxter, Jr. noted that he's taken a particular interest in the New York-bred program as he looks to identify potential prospects at the sale.

"The purse structure of the state-bred program and the stakes races available to Fourth and One going forward are a huge incentive," Baxter, Jr. said. "I've enjoyed coming to New York for three of his races now and if he goes on to race in stakes races at the new Belmont when it opens, that would be an exciting draw for us, too. We've heard nothing but good things about the new facility and Jeremiah, the last time I spoke to him, was very high on it and thinks that people will enjoy going racing there. It's a state-of-the-art facility."

Among the partners on Fourth and One is Danny Brown, a football coach at South Christian High School in Byron Center, Michigan. Brown, who was recently named Coach of the Year by the West Michigan Officials Association, helped to inspire the name of the promising horse.

"When we were discussing him joining the partnership, I let him know you have to consider the money you're putting in...I wouldn't want him to have any regrets," Baxter, Jr. recalled. "I said to him, 'do you ever regret going for it on fourth and one?' And he said, 'never, we always go.'

"This is his first racehorse, and he gets excited about it the way a football coach would get excited about it, so him being involved in naming the horse has been fun for him and his family," Baxter, Jr. added.

Baxter, Jr. admits to dreaming of a return to the Churchill Downs winner's circle on Derby Day and said the partners are certainly looking forward to seeing if Fourth and One can convert his next opportunity into Derby points.

"Derby fever is a real thing, and this race will be a tremendous yardstick to figure out what type of horse we really have," said Baxter, Jr., who has seen Fourth and One race live in all but his winning effort.

The only question remaining is if the partners will allow Baxter, Jr. to attend the Withers in person.

"My partners have said, 'he runs second and third when you're there and wins when you're not, so maybe we ought to have you stay home,'" said Baxter, Jr. with a laugh.

3 Capuano trainees under consideration for 2026 Withers Stakes

Trainer Gary Capuano said he has nominated a trio of horses in Hollywood Import, Let's Go Lando and Wild Warrior to the Listed $200,000 Withers on January 31 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The nine-furlong route for sophomores offers 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

"I've got three nominated, and I'm thinking about sending one or two. I'm not sure yet, so I'll see how things go this week," Capuano said.

Pocket 3's Racing's Hollywood Import, a Kentucky-bred Honor A. P. colt, was last seen posting a pacesetting 1 3/4-length score over favored stablemate Probably Dreaming, who was bumped at break and closed late along the rail, in the seven-furlong Heft on December 27 at Laurel Park.

"He's starting to fill out a little more and mature and is putting things together," said Capuano. "He's still got a little more maturing to do, but right now, he's on the right track."

Hollywood Import would face his farthest test to date in the Withers, and Capuano has worked the colt twice going one mile over the Laurel Park main track, including in 1:45.80 on Friday. On January 9, he worked the same distance in 1:43.40.

"I worked him a week or so ago and he wouldn't relax. He was a little bit too keen and didn't finish up too well," Capuano said. "The other day, he worked and relaxed a lot more and finished up a lot stronger. I was pleased with that."

Hollywood Import, out of the Curlin mare Baby Zito, is a half-brother to Big Stretch, who captured the one-mile Escape Clause in 2023 at Assiniboia Downs. Hollywood Import was purchased for $50,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Paul Fowler, Jr.'s Probably Dreaming was in tight down the backstretch and shuffled back to last-of-6 into the turn before making his late charge. The Improbable sophomore colt won his first three starts, including scores at Delaware Park in the restricted six-furlong First State Dash on September 14 and the Rocky Run contested at a two-turn mile on October 11.

The chestnut entered the Heft from a runner-up effort in the Listed Nashua on November 1 here when 3 1/2-lengths back of My World, who exited that effort to win the local Jerome and is now targeting the Group 3 Saudi Derby.

Capuano said Probably Dreaming was recently sold privately and is no longer in his barn.

Eagle Up Stables, London Reid Thoroughbreds and Non Stop Stable's Maryland-bred Let's Go Lando could make his stakes debut from a six-length romp in a one-mile optional-claimer contested over sloppy and sealed footing on January 10 at Laurel Park.

The Game Winner gelding boasts an 8-2-2-2 record for purse earnings of $94,950.

Capuano said the bay has turned a corner since being gelded late last summer and stretched out to one mile and beyond after making his first four starts at sprint distances.

"As soon as we gelded him and got him stretched out to two turns, he had a good second and then came back and won," Capuano said. "The one-turn mile last out, he ran a really good race and finished up strong. It might be a little quick back for him, but we'll see."

Let's Go Lando, a half-brother to stakes-winners It's Hammertime and Shackled Love, is out of the stakes-winning Not For Love mare Steady N Love - a half-sister to multiple stakes-winners Malibu Beauty, Just Philtored, and Steady Warrior. All of the aforementioned family raced in the care of Capuano for a period of time.

Rose Petal Stable's Wild Warrior sports a perfect 4-2-0-2 in-the-money record and arrives from a key 1 1 1/6-mile optional-claiming route on December 14 at Laurel that featured next-out winners in runner-up Bala de Plata and the aforementioned Let's Go Lando.

"He's been training really good since early last year," Capuano said. "He's not real fast early and he's just a real steady horse, so we stretched him out from the start. He had a nice race last out and everything is coming together with him."

The $25,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase is out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Inaweofnooneatall - a half-sister to dual graded-stakes winner Bel Air Beauty.

Capuano indicated that Eagle Up Stables, London Reid Thoroughbreds and Non Stop Stable's stakes-winner It's Hammertime, a 4-year-old Maryland-bred Vekoma colt, is in training with no current spot picked out as of yet.

The dual stakes-winner was last seen winning an optional-claimer in April at Laurel. It's Hammertime posted back-to-back bullet works last month, including a half-mile from the gate in 47.40 on December 30 in his last reported breeze.

Bricklin Possible for Withers Stakes

Imagine Racing's Bricklin impressed last out when winning by 3 1/4 lengths in a one-mile optional claimer on January 3 at Oaklawn Park. Trainer Rodolphe Brisset said the Nyquist dark bay is under consideration for multiple Kentucky Derby-trail options, including staying home for the Grade 3 Southwest on January 31 at Oaklawn or possibly the Listed $200,000 Withers the same day at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"Pretty much everything is in play: the Southwest, the Withers," said Brisset. "Or we could give him a little more time, wait until mid-February, or wait all the way until the Rebel [on March 1 at Oaklawn]. I'm not committing to anything. Nothing is out of the picture, but we aren't in a rush, we've got to play it week by week."

Both the 1 1/16-mile Southwest and nine-furlong Withers offer 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Bricklin earned a career-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure for his recent win and improved to 2-for-4 overall, missing the board in his August debut at Ellis Park and in the Grade 3 Street Sense in October two starts back at Churchill Downs. Brisset said Bricklin returned to the tab on Saturday at Oaklawn with Clocker Special.

"He worked yesterday with another 3-year-old, who's had a layoff and we will try to see if he's good enough to be on the Derby Trail, too, by the name of Clocker Special," Brisset said. "They worked together, it was a nice maintenance five-eighths from the half, nothing fancy, but a good work."

Clocker Special, owned by Storyteller Racing, Schroeck Racing, Open Gate Horse Ventures, Brian Cahoe, Scott Catlett, Dave Russel and Matthew Ransdell, graduated second-out when making his most recent start in July at Ellis Park.

"Clocker Special, we had our eye on him at two, he broke his maiden pretty impressively, was pointing for the Futurity at Keeneland. He got just a little setback, never got hurt, but we didn't like the way he was training, so we gave him some time to focus on winter racing and the Derby Trail," Brisset said. "He's been working at Oaklawn and we might have an allowance the day after the Southwest on February 1st. That would be our starting point."

Brisset said he nominated the trio of N Z Holly, Joke Maker and Hollybygolly to the $135,000 Ruthless, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, on Withers Day at Aqueduct.

"A week-by-week play with the fillies. Two of them [N Z Holly, Joke Maker] are at Oaklawn, up to New York is not an easy ship, but we do have some at Keeneland so we can always divide the trip to two steps," Brisset said. "The last one I nominated, Hollybygolly, is at Turfway and just broke her maiden pretty impressively, but at a lower level, so we'll play it by ear."

Schoolyardsuperman possible for Listed $200K Withers

Jan 4 - Hit the Bid Racing Stable's Schoolyardsuperman earned an 86 Beyer for his third-out graduation traveling a one-turn mile on December 6 here and is likely headed to the Withers after passing on Saturday's Jerome here.

The $150,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is by Practical Joke, a three-time Grade 1-winner for Brown. The talented colt endured a troubled debut on September 13 here where he clipped heels and fell but returned one month later to finish a pressing second in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

Last out, Schoolyardsuperman soared to a 5 3/4-length win while stretching out for the first time.

"I'd like to give him the opportunity to get around two turns as well. I'm going to point him to the Withers," Brown said. "This horse will have a little more time between races, which I think will serve him well. He wasn't quite ready to go right back in the Jerome. I think he'll benefit from a little more time.

"He has some additional experience with three career races already and I didn't think running him every four weeks was the right thing to do," Brown added. "A little more time between his maiden win and jumping up into a stake will help."

Schoolyardsuperman worked a half-mile in 49.95 seconds Sunday over the Belmont Park dirt training track. He is out of the winning Tiznow mare Tizlegal, a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Crazy Mason.

Star Sweeper possible for Listed $200K Withers

Bran Jam Stable and David W. Clark's Star Sweeper could return to stakes company in the Listed $200,000 Withers, a nine-furlong route for sophomores on January 31 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Withers offers 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Trained by Louis Linder, Jr., the Rock Your World colt graduated on debut in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on September 20 at Parx Racing with Paco Lopez at the helm. Star Sweeper was off the board in his next two outings, including a fifth in the one-mile Rocky Run at Delaware Park and an eighth in the James F. Lewis, III at Laurel Park on November 8.

Last out, with Angel Rodriguez aboard for the first time on Christmas Eve at Parx, Star Sweeper pressed the pace of Bootleg Runner in the 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming sprint, collaring the leader by the stretch call and powering clear to a 2 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:20.12. The winning effort earned a career-best 62 Beyer Speed Figure.

"We're considering the Withers. He broke his maiden first time out and we had Angel on him last time. He saw how Paco rode him and did the same. He really ran big last time and he breezed really good after that," noted Linder, Jr. of a five-eighths breeze in 1:01.59 on January 6 at Parx.

Star Sweeper was purchased by Linder, Jr. for $40,000 at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training where he worked in 10.3 seconds. He is out of the Tapit mare Tapless, a half-sister to 2020 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap-winner Combatant.

Linder, Jr. said he expects Star Sweeper will be able to handle the added distance of the Withers.

"I think he will. I think he will relax and wait for his cues and that's what will really help him," Linder, Jr. said. " He's got the attitude and everything he does, he does easy. He's a little immature mentally yet, but he's getting there. He's not a paper bag in a windstorm like he used to be. He's settled down and going through his paces as we ask him."

Star Sweeper was the third-highest earning progeny last year of Rock Your World, who was the fourth-leading first-crop sire by both wins and earnings. Rock Your World's leading money earner last year, the Kenny McPeek-trained filly Taken by the Wind, is entered in the Silverbulletday on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Withers Stakes History

The Withers Stakes has a storied history dating back to 1874 when it was run at Jerome Park. The race has been run at a number of different New York tracks including Belmont Park from 1984-1996 and three years in the 1950's. The Withers is currently held on Aqueduct's inner track in Queens, NY and it is a Grade III event for 3-year-olds with a purse of $250,000. The race is in early February and is a `Road to the Kentucky Derby' prep race with the top four finishers earning Derby qualifying points (10-4-2-1). The Withers also serves as a prep race for the Wood Memorial in April at Aqueduct.

At one time the Withers (G3) was a prestigious prize nearly on par with the Triple Crown races. It was not uncommon for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners to use the one-mile race as a prep for the Preakness or Belmont Stakes; Sir Barton (1919), Omaha (1935), and Count Fleet (1943) managed to find time during their successful Triple Crown campaigns to compete in the Withers as well. By the 2000s the Withers had slipped sharply in prominence. Fewer high-class horses were competing in the Withers, which carried a purse of just $150,000, and it slipped from Grade 2 to Grade 3 status in 2000.

The Withers was historically run at a distance of 1 mile, and the race record was 1:32.40 by Williamstown (1993). The Withers distance was lengthened to 1 1/16 miles in 2012, and Far From Over (2015) holds that distance record in the Withers at 1:43.93.

Notable horses have won the Withers throughout history, including Triple Crown winners Sir Barton (1919) and Count Fleet (1943). Sir Barton became the first winner of what would be known as the American Triple Crown. Man O' War (1920) won 20-of-21 races including the Preakness and Belmont Stakes but skipped the Kentucky Derby. Native Dancer (1953) won 21-of-22 lifetime races with his lone loss in the Kentucky Derby. Additionally, 2006 winner Bernardini went on to win the Preakness Stakes that year.

The Withers was not run in 1911 or 1912 when the New York State legislated a ban on all forms of wagering on horses. Since Aqueduct's opening in the mid 1970's, the only horse hardy enough to race in the colder weather over the inner track and then go on to win the Kentucky Derby was 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones.

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