Study Guide: 2025 Withers Stakes
Jan 27, 2025
Mo Quality winning a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
At 1 1/8 miles in distance, Saturday’s $250,000 Withers S. at Aqueduct is the longest Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier contested thus far in 2025.
Seven horses will vie for the 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualification points up for grabs by the top five finishers. Let’s examine the field:
Global Steve
Global Steve wins the Parx Future Stars at Parx Racing. (Photo by EQUI-PHOTO)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Cash Is King and LC Racing
Breeder: Lance Colwell
Trainer: Robert Reid Jr.
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez
Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning the Future Stars S. at Parx Racing.
Total Earnings: $73,800
Sire: Bucchero
Dam: A Rosefor Isabelle
Color: Chestnut
Undefeated Global Steve has gone 2-for-2 at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania, most notably rallying to win the Future Stars S. with an 87 Brisnet Speed rating. Stretching out from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles is a question mark for the son of speedy sprinter Bucchero, but Global Steve still has upside and shouldn’t be underestimated.
Surfside Moon
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Manor Stable and Mair Lee Stables
Breeder: Equivine Farm
Trainer: James Lawrence II
Jockey: Sahin Civaci
Top Speed Rating: (80) when finishing third in a Delaware Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $43,900
Sire: Malibu Moon
Dam: Crescent Lady
Color: Chestnut
Surfside Moon broke his maiden on grass, but has since finished fifth in the Laurel Futurity on dirt and sixth in the Awad S. on turf. He’ll need a step forward to challenge in the Withers.
Corvus
Corvus wins at Belmont at the Big A. (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: R.T Racing Stable
Breeder: Dr. Rod Stewart and Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Jose Jimenez
Jockey: Romero Maragh
Top Speed Rating: (79) when finishing second in an Aqueduct allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $82,070
Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Dolores Westworld
Color: Bay
Corvus hasn’t finished out of the top four in any of his six starts, including a couple of allowance optional claimers at Aqueduct. But his career-best 79 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the Withers field.
Uncle Jim
Uncle Jim wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Robert V. LaPenta and Madaket Stables
Breeder: Kim Nardelli, Rodney Nardelli, and William Werner
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Top Speed Rating: (83) when winning a Keeneland maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $68,390
Sire: City of Light
Dam: Now Now
Color: Dark bay/brown
Uncle Jim rallied sharply to win a maiden special weight sprint at Keeneland by three lengths, then shipped to Aqueduct to finish third in a one-mile $80,000 allowance optional claimer. The winner, Cyclone State, came back to win Aqueduct’s Jerome S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Uncle Jim has top-four potential while making his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut for hot trainer Brad Cox.
Mo Quality
Mo Quality winning a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Walmac Farm
Breeder: Titletown Racing Stables
Trainer: Christopher Davis
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $136,250
Sire: Mo Town
Dam: Revealing Quality
Color: Bay
Mo Quality earned a strong 90 Brisnet Speed rating when taking a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, and he secured Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points when finishing second in the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park. Mo Quality performed well against accomplished rivals in the Smarty Jones and is a strong win threat while taking on arguably easier competition in the Withers.
Captain Cook
Captain Cook wins at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: St. Elias Stable
Breeder: Marylou Whitney Stables
Trainer: Rick Dutrow Jr.
Jockey: Manny Franco
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $50,756
Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Pow Wow Wow
Color: Bay
Captain Cook obliterated a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct last time out, winning by 9 1/4 lengths over a sloppy track. That runaway win yielded a 92 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number in the Withers field. Captain Cook’s pedigree suggests 1 1/8 miles might be farther than he wants to run, but his talent may prove sufficient to offset any stamina shortcomings.
Omaha Omaha
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: On Your Left Racing
Breeder: On Your Left Racing
Trainer: Michael Gorham
Jockey: Raul Mena
Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing second in the Jerome S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $97,300
Sire: Audible
Dam: England Swings
Color: Bay
Stretch-running Omaha Omaha gobbled up ground down the Aqueduct homestretch to finish second in the one-mile Jerome S. on Jan. 4, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Cyclone State. A beneficial pace setup helped his chances, but there’s no reason to think Omaha Omaha won’t be closing ground again in the Withers. A spot in the exacta or trifecta is surely within reach.
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