The morning after January 1 Jerome Stakes, the coaches of the 1-2-3 finish team indicated that all three runners-up would likely return with $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) on February 5 at Aqueduct race track. The race, like Jerome, offers 10-4-2-1 Road to Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the top four finishers.
COURVOISIER beat Jerome Stakes with @joseortiz up for @Kellyjohnbreen and earn 10 points against the Kentucky Derby! #TheBigA pic.twitter.com/xadoPVw25V
– NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) January 1, 2022
“That was the plan,” coach Kelly Breen said of winner Jerome, Courvoisier . “Right now, he seems to like the track and Withers is there, so we’re at home with him right now.”
Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms’ John Sikura, who owns Courvoisier in partnership with James Spry, expressed his delight at seeing the 3-year-old chestnut win the premiere slot.
“We want to be realistic and not take the lead too soon. Every race is a new test,” Sikura added. “The water is deeper and some 3-year-olds get better with each warm-up. Everyone finds their level. We’ll just let the horse do the talking and hope that he does as loud. “
Sikura commended Breen for managing the horse effectively.
“Kelly did a great job with this horse,” Sikura said. “The best coaches are intuitive ones who don’t feel pressured from the boss or other things. So I’ll let Kelly draw the schedule, but Withers would be the next logical step.”
Coach Alfredo Velazquez said Happy Tenth Stable’s Smarten Up .
“He goes as long as possible for him. I can’t wait to run him twice. If everything goes well, I’ll be there,” Velazquez said. “He’s going to be tough in that race. If all goes well, they’re going to have to run to beat him.”
Cheyenne Stable’s Cooke Creek , the third a favorite after his time at Jerome, will hopefully have a fast track next time in Withers.
“He had a lot of classes and he wasn’t tired after that,” said nurse Jeremiah O’Dwyer. “He’s a very honest horse. He didn’t let us down – he ran very well. I just thought he would be better on the fairer track and also go two turns.”
Cooke Creek, who won Rocky Run Stakes about two times in October at Delaware Park, will again have the opportunity to run two laps in the nine-segment Withers, a race that O’Dwyer hopes will provide more favorable conditions.
O’Dwyer said: “The extra expansion in Withers will help him.” “The pace of the race and the dynamism will be different than a mile at a time. They’re a little more consistent and he’ll have a chance to settle. We can give him a break and give him a little bit of time. time to find. rhythm. Hopefully it’s just a regular fast track and we’ll see him in a better light.”
