Small Bear comes off the bench for Withers
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bavaro dropped the ball in his attempt to go two turns for owner Bill Parcells in last week’s Gander Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds. On Saturday, Parcells will see if his backup, Small Bear, is a prospect for the future.
Small Bear will bring a two-race winning streak into the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. Though the Withers is considered a prep race for 3-year-olds with Kentucky Derby dreams, Small Bear was conspicuous by his absence among the 419 3-year-olds nominated to the Triple Crown series last month.
There is a second nomination deadline in March, and Small Bear would have to step up to prove worthy, but he will get the chance Saturday when he meets El Areeb and eight others in the Withers.
“He’s done everything we asked him to do,” trainer Gary Sciacca said. “This is a big step up, but we’ll see what happens.”
Small Bear, by Macho Uno, was gelded after he ran eighth in his career debut going seven furlongs at Saratoga last summer. He finished third going six furlongs Dec. 1 at Aqueduct before winning a 1 1/16-mile maiden race by 5 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct on Dec. 18. He made his 3-year-old debut at Parx, winning a first-level allowance going a two-turn mile by 1 1/4 lengths on Jan. 17.
“When I ran him long, it made a big difference – that and gelding him,” Sciacca said. “He’s a still a little green, still really learning. Even when he won for us here, he was all over the place, not paying attention.”
Dylan Davis will ride Small Bear from post 8 in the 10-horse field.
As for Bavaro, he seemed to come out of his last-place finish as the 1-2 favorite in the Gander in good order. The Gander was Bavaro’s first try around two turns after two victories sprinting.
Sciacca had some blood work done on the colt, but no abnormalities were revealed. The horse was back on the track Thursday and likely will be kept sprinting.
“Maybe he didn’t want to go long,” Sciacca said. “Who knows? But he should have run a little better than that.”