Hit Show rerouted from Southwest to Withers Stakes
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Hit Show was to scratch from Saturday’s Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park to run in next Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct, trainer Brad Cox confirmed Friday.
“Better spot,” Cox said via text.
Hit Show, a son of Candy Ride owned and bred by Gary and Mary West, has won two of three starts including a first-level allowance going a two-turn mile at Oaklawn on Dec. 17.
He drew post 8 of 9 in the Southwest and was one of three Cox had entered in that race along with Corona Bolt and Jace’s Road.
The Withers is expected to draw a few other shippers, including Classic Catch from Todd Pletcher, either Lord Miles or Mr. Ripple from Saffie Joseph Jr., and potentially one from Bill Mott, who has four nominated. Among that group is Classic Legacy, a half-brother to Art Collector who won a seven-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct on Dec. 3 before shipping to Florida, where he is based at Payson Park, Mott’s primary winter headquarters.
Protege is based at Oaklawn with Ron Moquett, who said he is considering running him in the Withers or an Oaklawn allowance.
Shippers are expected to join locally based runners Artic Arrogance, the Grade 2 Remsen and Jerome runner-up, and General Banker, winner of the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion series, to make up a six- or seven-horse field.
The Withers, run at 1 1/8 miles, offers 40 qualifying points (20-8-6-4-2) to its top five finishers toward the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Early Voting, last year’s Withers winner, skipped the Kentucky Derby and won the Preakness.
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