Six Square Off In Aqueduct’s Withers

By Margaret Ransom

The Withers Stakes (GIII), which will be contested over Aqueduct’s main track on Saturday, is one of the oldest stakes for 3-year-olds contested in the country. Since it was first run in 1899 and won by Jean Bereaud, some highly talented sophomores have added their names to the winners’ list, including Colin, Sir Barton, Man o’War, Count Fleet, Polynesian, Hill Prince, Native Dancer, Dr. Fager, Ack Ack, Bold Reasoning, Key to the Mint, Housebuster and Bernardini. Lately, however, the race has been a strong prep for both next month’s Gotham Stakes (GIII) and April’s Wood Memorial Stakes (GI), but hasn’t had much of an impact on any of the Triple Crown races, unfortunately.

It’s going to be very cold in New York on Saturday, but dry, with highs only reaching into the mid-30s under mostly sunny skies. The Withers has been carded as the afternoon’s eighth with a post time of 4:35 p.m. ET.

This year, the 1 1/16-mile Withers will be worth $250,000 and a field of… (more)