Takeaways from 2023 Withers Stakes

Feb 15, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Aqueduct offered the Withers (G3) on Feb. 11, the second of four Road to
the Kentucky Derby series qualifiers at the New York track in 2023, and the 1
1/8-mile race offered points on a 20-8-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers.

1. Hit Show
a convincing success

Favored at 6-5 in his initial stakes appearance, Hit Show rallied to overhaul Arctic Arrogance in upper stretch and rolled
home to a 5 1/2-length victory. The gray colt improved his record to 3-for-4,
all three wins coming by open lengths.

Connections opted for the New York route following a 3 1/2-length
allowance win at Oaklawn Park in mid-December, and Hit Show thrived on the
stretch out to 1 1/8 miles, receiving a career-best 96 Brisnet Speed rating. That
number bodes well for his chances moving forward.

By Candy Ride and out of a multiple Grade 2-winning daughter
of Tapit, Hit Show certainly appears to appreciate longer distances. The confirmed
closer is becoming more formidable, and he’s eligible to keep progressing off a
sharp Withers performance.

2. Tougher
tests await

Runner-up Arctic Arrogance has finished first or second in
all six starts, but the Withers exposed some limitations as the pacesetter
readily gave way in the latter stages. The New York-bred colt probably needs
less ground and class relief in upcoming engagements. General Banker, a well-beaten third in the Jan. 7 Jerome S. at
Aqueduct, had little to offer finishing nearly seven more lengths back in
third, and the rest of the field really staggered home, as it more than 14 lengths
back to fourth.

The Wood
Memorial (G2) on April 8, a major qualifier offering 100 points to the winner,
is next for Hit Show. He will be a top contender off his resounding Withers
win, and the competition likely will get much deeper.

3. Cox
brigade

Hit Show is the latest
three-year-old from the Brad Cox stable to put his name on the Kentucky Derby
leaderboard. The Kentucky Derby and Eclipse Award-winning trainer has captured
three of the eight qualifiers in 2023, taking the Smarty Jones S. with Victory
Formation and Lecomte (G3) with Instant Coffee, and he has three contenders in
Saturday’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Cox had 10 individual interests in
Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager last weekend, and after saddling
three starters in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, he looks poised to increase that
total this spring.