How to Bet the Withers on a Budget
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March (inside), pictured breaking his maiden at Aqueduct last month, could upset the Withers Stakes on Saturday. (Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photo)
El Kabeir headlines a field of seven 3-year-olds set to enter the gate for Saturday’s Grade 3 $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. The Scat Daddy colt cruised to a 4 ¾-length victory in the Grade 3 Jerome Stakes over the same track last time out and had his owners, Zayat Stables, smelling those sweet Kentucky roses.
All signs point toward El Kabeir (post position No. 7)being the real deal. He’s improved each start since breaking his maiden at Saratoga last summer. In the process, he has shown the ability to win in front-running and stalking fashion. The 1 1/16-mile distance of the Withers should not be an issue, as he captured the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs at the same distance this past November.
In this small field, there are a couple horses that could muddy up the mutuel pools and turn the odds more in our favor.
Classy Class (1) checks in as the second favorite. The colt kicks off his 3-year-old campaign following a fading fourth in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in November. Some more polish under the tutelage of Kiaran McLaughlin, a few solid posted works since then, and New York circuit dynamo Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard indicate that an improved athlete will take to the dirt course Saturday.
March (3) is my other potential pick to spoil El Kabeir’s quest for a third straight stakes win. If El Kabeir gets caught up in a brisk pace early, March could run just off the pace and have a chance to pass up El Kabeir down the stretch.
All things considered, I expect El Kabeir and Classy Class to be hammered at the betting window. I’ll throw some money on March to win/place, to take advantage of his 5-1 (morning line) odds, and also utilize him in my exotics.
My strategy:
$5: Win/ Place on 3
$.50: Trifecta: 3,7/ALL/1,3,7
$250,000 Grade 3 Withers Stakes
Race 8 at Aqueduct on Saturday, Post Time 4:13 p.m. ET
1 1/16 miles on the dirt for 3-year-olds
PP
Horse
A/S
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
Classy Class
3/C
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
116
Kiaran McLaughlin
2/1
2
Far From Over
3/R
Manuel Franco
116
Todd Pletcher
5/1
3
March
3/C
Jose Ortiz
116
Chad Brown
6/1
4
Tencendur
3/C
Cornelio Velasquez
116
George Weaver
12/1
5
Unrivaled
3/C
Frankie Pennington
116
Marya Montoya
20/1
6
General Bellamy
3/C
Junior Alvarado
116
Bill Mott
15/1
7
El Kabeir
3/C
CC Lopez
122
John Terranova, II
8/5