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On this Saturday’s race cards there are two Kentucky Derby prep races, the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Gulfstream Park in South Florida and the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct in Queens, New York. Both of these events have a prize purse of $250,000 and qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.
The Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes is open to three-year old Thoroughbreds and the race covers 1 1/16 miles on dirt. The probable field is 11 horses led by Dubyuhnell as the favorite. Trained by Danny Gargan, he took first place in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 3 as a juvenile.
2023 Withers Stakes Predictions
When: Saturday, February 11th 2023
Where: Aqueduct Racetrack
The Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct is also open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. The probable lineup for the Withers Stakes is nine horses. Hit Show is my No. 1 favorite along with Artic Arrogance and General Banker as top contenders.
Win: Hit Show
The three-year-old colt is trained by Brad Cox and he has raced for Gary and Mary West Stables Inc. He finished first place in a one mile Allowance race at Oaklawn Park on Dec. 17 as a juvenile. Hit Show posted a time of 1:38.17 over Invulnerable and Protégé at this track.
As a son of Candy Ride, he was bred to go over a mile on dirt as one of the legitimate contenders for the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Hit Show has won twice in three races in his two-year-old career at Keeneland and Oaklawn.
Place: Artic Arrogance
Arctic Arrogance has finished first or second in five races since a six-furlong sprint on Sept. 5 of last year. He is trained by Linda Rice and bred in New York. In his last two stake races, Artic Arrogance place second place with Dubyuhnell and Lugan Knight taking first.
Sired by Frosted, he raced at Belmont Park, Saratoga and Aqueduct in New York’s horse tracks. Due to his New York roots, Artic Arrogance will gain a home-track advantage in the Withers Stakes this Saturday.
Show: General Banker
The New York-bred three-year old also has a home-track advantage in this race. His last three races are at Aqueduct, including a third-place showing in the Jerome Stakes on Jan. 7 of this year. General Banker has finished first, second or third at Belmont Park, Saratoga and Aqueduct in five of the seven races he has run at New York horse tracks.
General Banker is a son of Central Banker and he has competed on dirt and turf from a 5½ mile sprint race to 1 1/16 miles. He is stepping up in distance and grade in the Withers Stakes, but he won his stakes race on Dec. 17 at Aqueduct in the New York Stallions Great White Way.
