Offering 10-4-2-1 qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby, a field of seven will line up for Saturday's 1 1/8-mile GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct.
Our Braintrust (Freud), runner-up behind GISW Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) for Cathal Lynch and Stanton Smith Jr. in the one-turn mile Jerome S. Jan. 1, makes his first attempt for Gary Barber and Mark Casse here. He won Belmont's Tremont S. going 5 1/2 furlongs at second asking last June.
“Obviously, we haven't had Our Braintrust for very long, but he's done everything you can ask for,” Casse said. “I thought he's worked well. It's not an easy race. Everyone is trying to figure out where they fit in for the 3-year-old division. That's what you're doing in January and February; just trying to figure out who is going to mature from two to three.”
Lucky Lee (Flatter) makes his stakes debut for trainer John Servis off a pair of good-looking scores going a mile at Parx Oct. 14 and Nov. 17. He worked four furlongs in :50 1/5 (24/48) at Palm Meadows Jan. 13.
Tax (Arch), claimed for $50,000 out of a winning maiden claiming effort at Keeneland Oct. 21, enters off a third-place finish in the track-and-trip GII Remsen S. Dec. 1. R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing have joined Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable as owners since the Remsen on the 2-1 morning-line favorite.
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