Withers a starting point for Sunny Ridge

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – More so than most trainers with a 3-year-old at this time of year, Jason Servis has reason to be thinking about the Kentucky Derby. But Servis has different goals when considering where and when to run his New Jersey-bred gelding Sunny Ridge.

“I like money, too,” Servis said. “The Derby’s the Derby. Sure, it’d be great, but we’re not desperate for it.”

Perhaps Sunny Ridge will give Servis more reason to be enthusiastic about the Derby after he makes his 3-year-old debut in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. The Withers, run at 1 1/16 miles, is the second of four races for 3-year-olds on this circuit that offer qualifying points to the May 7 Kentucky Derby.

Sunny Ridge has already accrued eight points by virtue of runner-up finishes in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park and the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot. Sunny Ridge won the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth, a race that does not offer points. Still, the gelding by Holy Bull has accomplished a lot for a horse who debuted for maiden $40,000 claiming on June 21.

“We always thought he was a nice horse,” Servis said. “Did I sweat out running him for $40,000? He’s a Jersey-bred gelding. Do you lose him first time out? Probably not.”

Sunny Ridge won by a neck that day. He was 61-1 in the Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga, and though he finished seventh, he was beaten only 3 3/4 lengths. He won the Sapling after that before finishing second to Greenpointcrusader in the Champagne and second, beaten a neck by Exaggerator, in the Delta Jackpot.

In the Sanford, he appeared to not be handling the track in the early stages, as he dropped back nearly nine lengths off the pace. It wasn’t until the stretch that he settled in and came with a run.

Sunny Ridge has been training steadily at Belmont Park, and though he doesn’t show many workouts, he has put in several strong gallops over the training track.

Sunny Ridge drew post 7 and will be ridden by Manny Franco in the Withers. He likely will be the second choice behind Flexibility, the Jerome Stakes winner, who drew post 2.

Also entered were Donegal Moon, Cards of Stone, King Kranz, Vorticity, and Adventist.

There will be 10 races on Saturday, and first post will be 12:50 p.m. Eastern. The Withers is carded as the fourth at 1:50 p.m.

Also on Saturday is the Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan Stakes, which drew a 10-horse field topped by Dads Caps and Green Gratto, the one-two finishers from last April’s Grade 1 Carter Handicap.

The Toboggan, which will go as Race 9, was twice canceled due to bad weather.

Green Gratto will break from post 10, while Dads Caps drew post 4. Sassicaia, who was not entered the previous two times the race was scheduled, is the newcomer to the field.