Alpha among the brightest prospects for the Grade 3, Withers Stakes on 4th February at Aqueduct, after the Count Fleet Stakes
The three-year-old bay colt, Alpha’s connections have a little different planning this year round, as their decision to get the colt of Bernardini out of Munnaya entered for the Grade 3, $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on 4th February,
is just a string of a far flung plan that might as well get him contesting for at least one of the legs of the Triple Crown.
“We’re looking for graded earnings from this spot,” Kiaran McLaughlin said. “Like every other 3-year-old that has hopes and visions of running on the first Saturday in May, that’s what we’re after. It’s a graded race, unlike last year, so it’s very
important to start banking some earnings from a colt that we like a lot”.
The Darley bred Alpha broke through his maiden on 3rd September, 2011 at Saratoga while ridden by Alan Garcia.
On 8th October 2011, Alpha finished second in the Grade 1, Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, raced over a mile. The race was won by the 6 to 5 favourite of the race, Union Rags who led by 5 ¼ lengths, ridden by J Castellano.
The worst performance turned in by Alpha through the four career starts till yet was in the Grade 1, Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on 5th November at Churchill Downs.
Alpha had a troubled start due to getting stuck in the gate from which he could not recover, and did not really race through the track following the disturbed start, thus finished eleventh with K. Gomez riding.
Alpha posted his seasonal debut victory through winning the Count Fleet Stakes on 7th January, 2012 at Aqueduct, which was raced over the distance of a mile and ½ furlong.
From those who contested in the Count Fleet Stakes, Alpha, How Do I Win and Speightscity will be moving on with the Grade 3, Withers Stakes on 4th February.
This year, the Withers have replaced the Whirlway Stakes on the racing calendar, and serves as the first of the three graded stakes that eventually lead up to the Grade 1, Kentucky Derby.
Hakama, Swag Daddy, King Kid and Tiger Walk complete the lineup of seven who will be competing on 4th February at Aqueduct in the Grade 3, Withers Stakes.
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