Marconi heads Withers trio for Pletcher
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher will start three of the six horses in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct, but most of the focus will be on Marconi, a colt with a big price tag, big pedigree, and big stride.
Marconi is a son of Tapit and a half-brother to 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man. He was purchased as a yearling for $2 million by a partnership of Bridlewood Farm and the Coolmore connections of Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith.
After rallying from off the pace to be second in his Nov. 17 debut, he came back on Dec. 15 to beat maidens by 5 1/2 lengths, overcoming a bit of traffic down the backstretch and a four-wide trip basically throughout.
Both of those races were at 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct and Pletcher purposely kept Marconi in New York for the Withers because it is the first opportunity to run that distance in a race that offers qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby. The top four finishers from the Withers earn points on a 10-4-2-1 basis.
“I think he’s still a work in progress,” Pletcher said Wednesday from south Florida. “He’s a mid-May foal, he’s got a lot of natural talent, he’s still figuring things out. The one thing we know for sure is he handles the distance. That was the main reason we decided to keep him in New York for the time being.”
Marconi does not have a flashy turn of foot. He is more of a grinding type, which is one reason Pletcher believes he’s effective at the longer distances. Pletcher was impressed with the way Marconi restarted under Javier Castellano in his maiden win after running up on heels of other horses and brushing with pacesetter Home Run Maker near the half-mile pole.
“My concern was once you get him going, you want to keep his momentum going,” Pletcher said. “After Javier had to tap on the brakes, he was able to restart again and he was able to do that. I was happy to see some versatility that way.”
Manny Franco will ride Marconi in the Withers.
Pletcher will also send out Bal Harbour and Coltandmississippi in the Withers.
Bal Harbour, a son of First Samurai owned by John Brunetti’s Red Oak Stable, won the Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream on Dec. 9 and then finished second, beaten 6 1/4 lengths by Mask, in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 6.
This will be Bal Harbour’s first start beyond one mile but he has already won around two turns, taking last September’s Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park. The Withers will be Bal Harbour’s eighth start.
“I think a mile and an eighth will suit him fine,” Pletcher said. “His seasoning, having a two-turn race and the benefit of having a lot of racing experience, generally helps in these types of races.”
Kendrick Carmouche rides Bal Harbour.
Last month, Pletcher shipped up Coltandmississippi from Florida for the Jerome where he finished third under Trevor McCarthy, beaten 5 3/4 lengths by winner Firenze Fire, who figures to be the Withers favorite Saturday.
With McCarthy aboard Firenze Fire on Saturday, Junior Alvarado has picked up the mount on Coltandmississippi, a son of Pioneerof the Nile owned by Teresa and Vinnie Viola.
Withers entrant Avery Island, who won the Grade 2 Nashua and finished second in the Grade 2 Remsen here last fall, arrived in New York Tuesday from south Florida. On Wednesday, he jogged a mile and galloped a mile over Belmont Park’s training track.
California Night, a son of Midnight Lute who won his debut sprinting here on Dec. 10, completes the field with Rafael Hernandez riding for Mike Maker.
