Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes; 1 1/8 miles; Aqueduct; Feb. 5, 2022 (10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Early Voting, by Gun Runner Trainer: Chad Brown Jockey: Jose Ortiz Owner: Klaravich Stables Beyer Speed Figure: 87 The 2022 New York preps to the Derby have been underwhelming so far. This race was ripe for a new face, as five of the 11 runners were exiting a Jerome that looked to be one of the weaker preps in a while. That theory was confirmed – as the old saying goes, figs don’t lie - as no one exiting the Jerome Stakes could do better than sixth, with the first five places taken by new faces. EARLY VOTING seized the opportunity. He came into this race off a debut win going a mile, and stepped right up to stakes company and remained unbeaten. Credit to Brown and owner Seth Klarman for taking advantage of this soft spot. That’s how you’re supposed to manage a horse at this stage of his career. But in terms of this proving to have any serious impact on the Derby trail, I’d be circumspect. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more In this race, Early Voting broke well and was sent along by Ortiz to take the lead while crossing over from his wide draw. He was kept slightly off the rail while tracked by COURVOISIER, had a daylight lead heading into the far turn, and then widened on his rivals. He remained well in front through the lane while drifting out a bit from occasional left-handed pressure. The fig was nothing special. The one thing in Early Voting’s favor is that the two horses closest to him early finished seventh and 11th. But I’m not making any future-book wagers on anyone in this field. UN OJO, who finished second, had no early speed and trailed into the first turn while in the two path. He remained inside to the far turn and saved ground initially on the far turn before being angled out to avoid tiring rivals. He came into the lane three to four paths wide, split rivals in upper stretch, and made steady progress without threatening the winner. Not a bad race for his first try around two turns, and with New York-bred options available, trust his shrewd connections (trainer Tony Dutrow and owner Cypress Creek Equine) to place him sensibly going forward. GILDED AGE, who was third, saved ground toward the rear of the field into the first turn, then was angled a bit off the rail while still well back. He advanced slightly toward the end of the backstretch while in the clear, made an extended rally while four paths wide on the turn, came into the lane five wide, was second in upper stretch, but flattened out late and lost the place. GRANTHAM, who was fourth, saved ground around the first turn while in the clear in fourth, lost some ground nearing the far turn as several rivals advanced inside of him, re-engaged from the four path and got up to second coming off the bend, but weakened in deep stretch while between Un Ojo and Gilded Age. The rest were well back. NONEEDTOWORRY, who was fifth, raced toward the rear of the field in the three path around the first turn, was three to four paths wide around the far turn and into the stretch, and passed a few tiring rivals while never threatening. SMARTEN UP, who was sixth, broke a bit slowly, checked slightly soon after the start, then saved ground while toward the rear of the field around the first turn. He saved ground early on the far turn and only had to tip out to the two path to continue his run, split horses in upper stretch, but never showed any appreciable spark. Courvoisier, who was seventh, bobbled slightly leaving the gate but quickly recovered, advanced to a forward position, was carried out early on the first turn by CONSTITUTIONLAWYER, but kept his forward progress to be closest to the winner in the early going. But he began to lose contact with Early Voting three furlongs out, and steadily faded thereafter. :: Want the best bonus in racing? Get a $250 deposit match, $10 free bet, and free Formulator with DRF Bets. Code: WINNING COOKE CREEK, who was eighth, broke half a step slow but showed enough speed from his wide draw to advance to fifth around the first turn while dropping over to the two path, outside of Grantham. He was mid-pack and three paths wide entering the far turn, was asked to advance, but had nothing to offer. His form is declining. MR JEFFERSON, who was ninth, was shuffled back between rivals while unable to hold his position into the first turn and was mid-pack while three paths wide. He advanced between rivals heading to the far turn to wind up battling for third amongst several others three furlongs out, but was done before reaching the quarter pole, dropped down to the rail, and continued to retreat. UNBRIDLED BOMBER, who was 10th, raced mid-pack while inside around the first turn, got through inside down the backstretch to advance to a more prominent position entering the far turn, but came off the bridle midway on the turn and stopped badly while failing to change leads. Constitutionlawyer, who finished last of 11, was sent along from his inside draw leaving the gate, then switched out to get outside of Early Voting while carrying out Courvoisier. He then settled into third behind the two early leaders, but was engulfed heading to the far turn without putting up any fight, and tailed off badly and drifted out in a dreadful performance. Considering his one win was the only time he used Lasix, it’s fair to wonder if something related to that went amiss here. Regardless, hope he pulled up okay.