Study Guide: 2024 Withers Stakes
Feb 01, 2024
Speed Runner wins at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
A field of nine horses has turned out to contest Saturday’s $250,000 Withers S. (G3) at Aqueduct, a 1 1/8-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.
A historic race dating back to 1874, the Withers has been won by racing legends like Man o’ War, Count Fleet, Sir Barton, Native Dancer, Dr. Fager, and even inaugural Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Aristides.
Let’s meet the 2024 Withers entrants:
Speed Runner
Speed Runner wins at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Whisper Hill Farm
Breeder: Whisper Hill Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Top Speed Rating: (85) when breaking his maiden at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $57,550
Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Speed Succeeds
Color: Chestnut
After finishing third in his debut sprinting seven furlongs at Aqueduct, Speed Runner stretched out over 1 1/8 miles and employed pace-tracking tactics to win a maiden special weight by a neck. He’ll stick to the same distance for the Withers and can challenge for victory even while stepping up in class. It helps that Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has won this race twice since 2013.
Deposition
Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Uriah St. Lewis
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Uriah St. Lewis
Jockey: Dexter Haddock
Top Speed Rating: (80) when breaking his maiden at Parx Racing.
Total Earnings: $45,775
Sire: Constitution
Dam: Mandrell
Color: Dark bay/brown
Deposition was much the best in a one-mile and 70-yard maiden special weight at Parx Racing, dominating by 4 1/2 lengths, but he’s missed the trifecta in both of his stakes starts and needs to improve upon his career-best 80 Brisnet Speed rating.
Lightline
Lightline wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Breeder: Town & Country Horse Farms
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Manny Franco
Top Speed Rating: (85) when finishing second in an Oaklawn Park allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $69,850
Sire: City of Light
Dam: Upperline
Color: Bay
A 13 3/4-length maiden winner racing one mile at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Lightline has followed up with runner-up finishes in $100,000 and $80,000 allowance optional claimers at Keeneland and Oaklawn Park. He’s faced quality competition for hot trainer Brad Cox, who won the 2023 Withers with Hit Show, so Lightline has every chance to challenge for victory on Saturday.
El Grande O
El Grande O wins the Sleepy Hollow (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Walter Wlodarczyk)
Start(s): 9
Wins: 3
Place: 4
Show: 1
Owner: Barry K. Schwartz
Breeder: Stonewall Farm
Trainer: Linda Rice
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche
Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Bertram F. Bongard S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $349,000
Sire: Take Charge Indy
Dam: Rainbow’s Song
Color: Dark bay/brown
There’s no denying El Grande O has talent—the two-time stakes winner owns Brisnet Speed ratings of 99, 97, and 94, the three highest numbers in the Withers field. But he’s yet to race around two turns, and a weakening runner-up finish in the one-mile Jerome S. at Aqueduct hints 1 1/8 miles could be farther than El Grande O wants to run.
Seminole Chief
Seminole Chief (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Brad Grady and David Grund
Breeder: Brad Grady and Misty Grady
Trainer: Jack Sisterson
Jockey: Trevor McCarthy
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning the In Reality division of the Florida Sire S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $195,960
Sire: Girvin
Dam: Secret Song
Color: Gray/roan
Seminole Chief showed determination to post a half-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality division of the Florida Sire S. against Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park, earning a sharp 90 Brisnet Speed rating. But that raced featured slow closing fractions, so Seminole Chief may need a stronger finish to compete against non-state-restricted competition over 1 1/8 miles.
Society Man
Start(s): 2
Wins: 0
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: West Paces Racing, Danny Gargan, and GMP Stables
Breeder: SF Bloodstock
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Isaac Castillo
Top Speed Rating: (80) when finishing third in an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $10,830
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: You Cheated
Color: Chestnut
Society Man ran his best race over 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct, finishing third in a maiden special weight, but he came home 4 1/2 lengths behind Speed Runner and needs improvement to turn the tables.
Mission Beach
Mission Beach wins at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan
Breeder: Doug Branham and Felicia Branham
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Jockey: Dylan Davis
Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning his debut at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $99,600
Sire: Curlin
Dam: Stoweshoe
Color: Bay
Del Mar debut winner Mission Beach showed some promise in the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga last summer, dueling for six furlongs before weakening to finish fifth by five lengths. The son of Curlin is bred to run long, but was sharp enough to win a $62,500 allowance optional claimer sprinting six furlongs at Laurel Park last time out, so there are reasons to believe Mission Beach can exceed expectations while stretching out over 1 1/8 miles.
Uncle Heavy
Uncle Heavy wins the Wait For It S. at Parx (Photo by Equi-Photo / Credit to Barbara Weidl)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Michael Milam
Breeder: Barbara Reid
Trainer: Robert Reid Jr.
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez
Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning his debut at Parx Racing.
Total Earnings: $156,080
Sire: Social Inclusion
Dam: Expect Wonderful
Color: Bay
Uncle Heavy has earned respectable Brisnet Speed ratings at Parx Racing, including an 88 when rallying to victory in the one-mile and 70-yard Wait For It S. against Pennsylvania-breds. But the waters get deeper against non-state-restricted competition on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, so Uncle Heavy is something of a wildcard.
Khanate
Khante wins at Keeneland (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Mongolian Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Eric Cancel
Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing sixth in a Churchill Downs allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $62,820
Sire: Hightail
Dam: Mongolian Shopper
Color: Dark bay/brown
Khanate achieved a Road to the Kentucky Derby placing when overcoming a stumbling start to finish third in the Jerome, but the son of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Hightail was weakening down the homestretch and finished 7 1/2 lengths behind El Grande O. It’s possible sprinting will prove to be Khanate’s strong suit.
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