Risk Taking rallies late for Withers Stakes triumph

Risk Taking made it two straight wins at 1 1/8 miles and with blinkers added as he rallied to a handy 3 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.

Overtook, like Risk Taking coming out of a maiden win, rallied from last in the nine-horse field to get second by 1 1/4 lengths over Capo Kane.

Capo Kane, coming off a victory in the one-turn-mile Jerome Stakes, finished third by 4 3/4 lengths over Royal Number. Eagle Orb was fifth, followed by Civil War, Donegal Bay, Shackqueenking, and Mr. Doda.

The victory earned Risk Taking 10 points toward the May 1 Kentucky Derby under the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the field if more than 20 horses are entered.

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It would not seem like the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance will be an issue for Risk Taking, as he was doing his best running in the late stages and past the wire in the Withers. It remains to be seen how he fits with the upper echelon of the 3-year-old division, a test that will likely come later.

On Saturday, Risk Taking settled into sixth position under Eric Cancel, about 4 1/2 lengths behind Capo Kane who, under Dylan Davis, set fractions of 24.02 seconds for the quarter and 48.71 for the half-mile. Longshot Mr. Doda stalked the pace first before he dropped back, and Eagle Orb took up the chase.

Leaving the three-eighths pole, Risk Taking moved into third while Capo Kane still maintained a length advantage over Eagle Orb.

Wide and in the clear in the stretch, Risk Taking gradually cut away at Capo Kane’s lead in the stretch and was not bothered when Capo Kane, as he did in the Jerome, drifted out a path or two under Dylan Davis. Risk Taking took control outside the sixteenth pole and was a handy winner.

“I thought they’d go a little quicker [early] but the instructions were to sit patient on him and just give him a really confident ride,” Cancel told NYRA publicity. “Turning for home I knew I had a lot of horse, it was just a matter of having to ask him and once I did he started going, I was very confident. I never had any doubt he was going to win the race as soon as we turned for home.”

Risk Taking, a son of Medaglia d’Oro owned by Seth Klarman and trained by Chad Brown, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.91 and returned $5.80.

Brown credited Cancel with a polished ride and his Aqueduct team, led by assistant trainer Dan Stupp, for preparing Risk Taking for Saturday’s performance.

“I couldn’t be prouder of [Cancel] for the trip he gave this horse from every pole,” Brown said. “He used him a little for position early, and staying out of trouble off the fence and showing some patience.

“I’m proud of the whole team,” Brown added. “This horse started out in the summer at Monmouth and then moved over to New York and several different team members have worked this horse to bring him along. They all should be proud today.”

Brown said he wouldn’t cut Risk Taking back to the one-mile distance of the Gotham, the next 3-year-old stakes run at Aqueduct on March 6. Most likely, he will leave the horse in New York and point to the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial here April 3.

Brown is expected to run Highly Motivated, winner of the Nyquist Stakes at Keeneland last fall, in the Gotham.