Aqueduct goes big on Friday, Feb. 6, with the $200,000 Withers Stakes (Race 10), originally scheduled for January 31 but the race was rescheduled due to extreme winter weather, and it now anchors a stacked card featuring multiple stakes events.
1 1/8 miles. 20 Derby points. No margin for error.
Chad Brown Sends a Powerful Two-Pronged Attack
Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown saddles two of the race’s leading contenders:
Schoolyardsuperman (post 2, Manny Franco) enters off a visually impressive performance, graduating at third asking with a 5¾-length victory in a one-turn mile maiden on December 6 at Aqueduct, earning a field-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure. The gray colt by Practical Joke was purchased for $150,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm, the operation that also bred Reincarnate, a starter in the 2023 Kentucky Derby.
Owner Peter O’Callaghan of Woods Edge Farm described the colt as a physical standout from the beginning, noting his size, athleticism, and presence — qualities that suggest long-term potential beyond Friday’s result.
Stablemate Ottinho (post 3, Jose Lezcano) brings a different but equally compelling profile. A Kentucky homebred for Three Chimneys Farm, Ottinho broke his maiden at second asking on December 31, winning over course and distance in his first attempt at two turns. He is a half-brother to Hall of Famer Gun Runner, out of the Grade 2-winning Giant’s Causeway mare Quiet Giant, and has been closely watched since his debut.
Three Chimneys vice chairman Doug Cauthen emphasized progression as the primary goal, noting that the colt’s family is known to improve with time — a trait highly valued on the classic trail.
Mailata Looks to Prove His Dominance Travels
Mailata (post 5, Mychel Sanchez) brings the most explosive last-out form into the race. The Pennsylvania-bred son of Maximus Mischief, trained by Butch Reid Jr., demolished the Parx Future Stars Stakes by 19 lengths on December 30 while stretching his record to 3-for-3, all with blinkers added.
Friday marks Mailata’s first start outside of Parx Racing and his sixth career outing, making the Withers a critical test of whether that dominance translates to Aqueduct against deeper company and at a longer distance.
Completing the Field
The remainder of the lineup adds depth, experience, and pace versatility:
- Grittiness (post 1, Ricardo Santana Jr., blinkers OFF) — trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, brings graded-stakes experience despite still seeking his first victory.
- Star Sweeper (post 4, Angel Rodriguez) — trained by Louis Linder Jr., offers tactical speed and consistency.
- Talk to Me Jimmy (post 6, Ruben Silvera) — New York-bred for Rudy Rodriguez, expected to contribute to the pace scenario.
- Fourth and One (post 7, Jaime Rodriguez) — trained by Jeremiah Englehart, arrives as a steadily improving runner with route experience.
A Race That Rewards Substance
With the pace picture softened by the absence of Project Ace, the 2026 Withers is likely to reward two-turn professionalism, composure, and finishing ability rather than raw early speed. Horses capable of settling comfortably and producing sustained runs through Aqueduct’s demanding winter surface will hold a clear advantage.
A Deeply Rooted Classic Legacy
First run in 1874, the Withers Stakes honors David Dunham Withers, one of the most influential breeders of the 19th century and a founding figure of Monmouth Park. The race’s historical importance is underscored by the fact that 30 Withers winners have gone on to capture at least one American Classic, including Triple Crown winners Sir Barton (1919) and Count Fleet (1943). Other famous winners of the race include Man o’ War (1920) and Native Dancer (1953).
Projected Pace Map & Race Flow
Understanding how the Withers might unfold is essential — especially with a field lacking an obvious runaway speed type. Here’s our pace projection based on running styles, recent performances, and likely positioning:
📍 EARLY FRACTION HELPERS
Talk to Me Jimmy (#6)
- Role: Early forward placement
- Expected Behavior: Likely to be one of the first to the lead or pressing the early pace given his tendency to sit near the front and challenge early.
Mailata (#5)
- Role: Pace pressure/pressing speed
- Expected Behavior: Coming from sprint-dominant form, he could attempt to be on or near the lead through early fractions.
📍 MIDPACK/SUSTAINED POSITIONAL TYPES
Schoolyardsuperman (#2)
- Role: Press and stalk position
- Expected Behavior: Figures to sit just off early speed, conserving energy and deploying a forward run around mid-turn.
Grittiness (#1)
- Role: Tactical speed/closer
- Expected Behavior: Could track a moderate early pace and attempt to improve on the turn, especially with blinkers off.
Fourth and One (#7)
- Role: Ground-saving stalker
- Expected Behavior: Likely to settle behind the leaders and pick up into the lane as fractions soften.
📍 CLOSER / TWO-TURN TYPES
Ottinho (#3)
- Role: Sustained late run
- Expected Behavior: Proven at the distance and likely to be positioned midpack early before looping horses in the stretch. His pedigree and stamina edge make him a late kick threat.
Star Sweeper (#4)
- Role: Trailing/stalk
- Expected Behavior: More of a midpack-to-closing threat who could benefit if fractions are contested early.
Key takeaway:
There isn’t an obvious lone speed star in this field — multiple horses can vie for position early — which could result in a moderate early pace. That scenario tends to favor midrace stalkers and late finishers (like Ottinho, Schoolyardsuperman, and Grittiness) if the front end softens.
Author: Agentes 305 – Carlos Morales
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