Hit Show remains one to beat in postponed Withers

Feb 08, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

The second of four Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifiers at
Aqueduct this year, the Withers
(G3) was rescheduled to Feb. 11 after being postponed due to adverse
weather conditions a week earlier. Seven three-year-olds will contest the 1
1/8-mile race, which will award points on a 20-8-4-2-1 scale to the top five
finishers as part of the Road to
the Kentucky Derby series.

Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Brad Cox has 10 horses listed
as individual entrants in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager this weekend,
including Hit Show, who will make
his first stakes attempt following a 3 1/2-length allowance win at Oaklawn Park
in mid-December.

By Candy Ride, Hit Show was re-routed to the Withers after
being entered in the Jan. 28 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park, and the gray colt
appears likely to go favored. Hit Show has captured 2-of-3 starts, and the late
runner will add the services of Manny Franco.

Arctic Arrogance
concluded 2022 with a half-length second in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, and the New York-bred
colt opened his sophomore campaign with a half-length second in the Jan. 7
Jerome S. at a one-turn mile. He’s firmly on the Kentucky Derby trail at this
early date, but questions remain about his effectiveness at longer distances
and overall quality.

The Withers may provide a better gauge. Trainer Linda Rice
will add blinkers to the gray frontrunner, and Arctic Arrogance will be
prominent from the start with Jose Lezcano.

Jungfrau, a regally-bred
son of Arrogate for owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms, will make his stakes debut
for Bill Mott, who won last Saturday’s Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park with Rocket
Can in his first stakes attempt. Jungfrau exits an improved effort at
Gulfstream in his third career start, re-rallying to miss by a nose after being
knocked wayward in upper stretch. He was placed first via disqualification, and
the gray colt will look to show more off the confidence-builder.

Andiamo a Firenze,
General Banker, Ninetyprcentmaddie, and Prove
Right are at least stakes-placed, but none have won at a two-turn distance.
The 1 1/8-mile distance rates as a serious concern for the quartet.