Withers Stakes Picks – Last Chance for Some Stakes Action before the Run for the Roses

In late April as the excitement of Derby Day, draws nearer there are only a handful of stakes events remain, to whet the appetite of horse racing aficionados. One of these races is the Grade III, $150.000 Withers Stakes run over a 1 mile distance on dirt, at Aqueduct Race Course in New York. The Withers has become a classic graded stakes event and this field looks to be a major proving ground for the likes of an up and coming three year old colt named D’Funnybone who is coming off an impressive win in Grade II Swale Stakes March 20th at Gulfstream Park

• What: Horse Betting
• When: Saturday, April 24th
• Where: Ozone Park Queens NY at Aqueduct Race Track
• Defending Champion: Thoroughbreds –Afleet Again,.Castaneda. D’Funnybone, Ibboyee, Most Happy Fella

The Storyline

The Withers Stakes is a historic race ran since 1874 and is named after famed horse breeder and former President of the New York Jockey Club David Withers 1821-1892. The Withers Stakes has lost some of it’s prestige over the last several years as the Kentucky Derby is less then two weeks away. Trainers are reluctant to run their charges to close to the main event and as many of the graded stakes winners having already ran in a series of Kentucky Derby Prep events. Trainers feel their horses cannot be turned around so quickly before the Derby. In this years edition of the Withers Stakes many had hoped for a showdown between D’Funnybone and Trappe Shot a 3 year old campaigner who won his last two starts by a combined 23 lengths would materialize. Sadly trainer Kieran McLaughlin was forced to scratch Trappe Shot from this race due to ankle injury. Trainer Rick Duttrow’s D’Funnybone is expected to have a return engagement with Swale Stakes runner up Ibboyee.

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Withers Stakes Picks – The Favorite

D’Funnybone ridden by Edgar Prado in his last start on March 20th at the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream was a wire to wire winner and odds on favorite, 1-2 over Ibboyee who came from off the pace to try to muster a late charge but finished a strong second 1 length and ¼ from D’Funnybone.

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Withers Stakes – The Second Tier

With Trappe Shot being exempted from this race, New York trainer Gary Contessa confirmed Castaneda will compete in The Withers. Castaneda a recent winner on the March 6th Fred Capossela Handicap. Also entered is Afleet Again. The son of Afleet Alex is 20-1 on the morning line odds is a middle of the pack horse who has shown some fight in him by virtue of his second place finish in the Whirlaway Stakes Feb 6th at Aqueduct he will ridden by Abel Mariano and be out of the gate from post position four. Rounding out the field is Most Happy Fella who set the early pace in the Wood Memorial but tired and placed out of the money. Eibar Coa will be in the irons and is mount will be at 12-1 in the morning line odds.

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Withers Stakes Picks – The Longshots

If Castaneda is entered in this race he could provide a surprise as he makes his transition to route racing from six furlong sprints. Trainer Contessa is on record saying that he would like to see Castaneda take a try on seven furlong racing. Castaneda is coming into this race with a three race winning streak and if he gets a good trip could graduate with a big price.

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Withers Stakes Prediction & Outlook

With trainer of D’Funnybone Rick Duttrow’s recent announcement that he has no plans to enter his charge into the Preakness. Many are speculating that he is preparing to look down the road to a possible matchup in the falls Breeders Cup with Eightyfiveinafifty as such a win in the Withers will enhance D’Funnybone’s reputation as a one turn runner.

Pick: D’Funnybone

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