Shotski, others, get in workouts for Withers

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Led by Shotski, the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes winner, five horses pointing to next Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct, put in workouts Friday morning at three different venues.

At Laurel, Shotski worked five furlongs in 1:02. Trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer said he was aboard Shotski and that he had two stablemates in front of him for the move.

“I wanted to get a good work into him this morning, just have a couple in front of him,” O’Dwyer said. “I did the same before the last time I sent him up to Aqueduct just to get plenty of dirt in his face and let him know he could be in that situation. Aqueduct is a pretty tiring track and you need to be very fit going up there.”

Shotski won the Remsen on Dec. 7 in front-running fashion, holding off Ajaaweed by a half-length. He has had six workouts, all at Laurel, since the Remsen.

“He’s a horse that’s still developing as a lot of the newly turned 3-year-olds are,” O’Dwyer said. “I just thought the time would do him good, so I’m pleased we did have that time for him to develop a bit physically. Mentally, he’s in a very good place, very confident in himself.”

Luis Saez, who was aboard for the Remsen, will be up from South Florida to ride Shotski, O’Dwyer said.

At Belmont on Friday, Max Player and Portos both put in workouts over the training track.

Max Player, a son of Honor Code trained by Linda Rice, worked five furlongs in 1:02.99. Max Player started several lengths in front of stablemate Fast Gordon and the two basically finished as they started. Max Player went from the half-mile pole to the wire in 50.45 seconds and then got his last eighth in 12.54 seconds. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.60.

“I wanted the other horse to come up alongside him, but [Max Player] was working so well I sent him on his own,” Rice said. “I was pleased with it; he went out well.”

Rice said she may also start Prince of Pharoahs, who dead-heated for second with Bourbon Bay, behind Independence Hall, in the Jerome. Bourbon Bay will not run in the Withers, trainer Mark Hennig advised via text.

Portos, a 10 3/4-length winner for trainer Todd Pletcher here on Dec. 31, worked a half-mile in 51.42 seconds in company with Moretti. Portos, with jockey Jose Lezcano up, got his last quarter in 25.21 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:05.17 and six furlongs in 1:19.60.

At Parx, Vanzzy, winner of the Display Stakes at Woodbine on Dec. 14, worked a half-mile in 49.27 seconds for trainer Michael Pino. Also at Parx, Monday Morning Qb, winner of the seven-furlong Heft Stakes at Laurel on Dec. 28, worked a half-mile in 50.24 seconds.

Hail to the Chief, a maiden winner at Turfway Park on Dec. 28, is also pointing to the Withers.

The top four finishers earn qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the May 2 Kentucky Derby.