4/24 (AQU): Withers (G3)
 

9th (4:50) Withers S. (G3)

1 Mile | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Most Happy Fella Coa E M 116 L
2 D' Funnybone Prado E S 123 L
3 Castaneda Chavez J F 118 L
4 Afleet Again Mariano A 116 L
5 Spangled Star Velasquez C 116 L
6 Ibboyee Velazquez J R 120 L

They talked Contessa into running Cast, he didn't want to originally

I'm a bit surprised A Little Warm wasn't at least entered for this race.

Where does he go when he doesn't get into the Kentucky Derby?

He's apparently going straight to the Preakness. Either the Withers or Derby Trial made sense to me but oh well.

NT

What is disgusting? The field for this race? What exactly are you expecting for a 3yo race run one week before the Kentucky Derby?

Well they talked him into running in the Capposela and that didn't turn out so bad.

I guess we can safely say that the hatchet has been buried betwixt Mssrs. Dutrow and Prado?

Since word came out about Homeboykris the only Dutrow horses he's been on have been Paul Pompa's and it might have something to do with that.

NT

You do realize that on the same day, Churchill Downs is running the Derby Trial for $200K at 7.5F? What should you reasonably expect with almost two identical races being run opposite one another?

Then you've never watched the Withers. It's almost always a compact field, and with good reason.

That's actually not correct.

In a four-horse field if I recall correctly. Medallist had my personal favorite Withers.

Unless you think a lot more of horses like Mr Fantasy, CP West, etc than I do, the Withers doesn't typically draw great horses or huge fields. For every Bernardini to enter this race there are about 50 glorified claimers taking advantage of the fact that the Derby is the next week and the Derby Trial is the same day, thus eliminating a huge chunk of the quality 3yo routers. This year the Derby Trial's purse is $50k bigger than this race, so why not go there instead?

Look, it obviously isn't a great (or deep) field, but D'Funnybone and Castaneda are both pretty decent, and for this type of race I just don't know how much more a person could reasonably expect.

By David Grening
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The racing office could be scrambling up until entry time Wednesday to fill Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.

As of Monday, the only confirmed starters for the Withers were Swale Stakes one-two finishers D' Funnybone and Ibboyee. The racing office was hoping to get trainer Gary Contessa to run the speedy New York-bred Castaneda, who has won three straight races at six furlongs including the Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes. The Withers is a one-turn mile.

I read that article.

Then Grening was mistaken. So be it.

NYRA needs to make the right decision albeit the hard one. Lobby to have racing dates reduced and close down Aqueduct and go dark for 3 months. Take the money and use 50% to get their house in order and the other 50% to increase purses at Toga and Belmont. Toga needs to be 3 months as it is your top producer. Just like in football you need to get the ball into the hands of your top producer as much as possible. All this is easier said than done but you would have to be non compos mentis to think the current state of affairs is working. I believe Aqueduct has lost its relevance on the National scene. Full disclosure for those that are about to bash me and accuse me of having an agenda, I don't work in the business or have any affiliation with the Horse Racing industry except as a small pct owner and a donater to the Pick 4 Pools.

You're really desperate...aren't you?

I'm sure, as always, that Dave reported accurately. That doesn't preclude the possibility that the horse was running anyway.

Not at all, I don't think my original post about Contessa needed a dumb response from you...my post was based on this article. Who cares?

I truly don't understand this. As stated in earlier posts:

1) The Derby Trial is run the same day. This splits the entries. Some will run at Churchill, some at Aqueduct.

2) D'Funnybone sucks? He might suck at a mile, but I will wait and see. He has done nothing this year - NOTHING - to warrant that comment.

3) Why do you think D'Funnybone won't do much the rest of the year?