Road to the Kentucky Derby > Withers Stakes
Withers Stakes Race Facts
- Location: Aqueduct Racetrack, Jamaica, NY
- Inaugural Race: 2001
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles
- Track Type: Left-handed, Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
- Status: Grade 3
- 2023 Purse: $250,000
- 2023 Race Date: Saturday, February 11th
Run at Aqueduct Racecourse in New York, the Withers Stakes traditionally runs in February as an early year member of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The race provides a point spread of 20-8-6-4-2 to the top finishing five horses.
2023 Withers Stakes Race Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Hit Show | Manuel Franco / Brad H. Cox | $4.60 / $3.00 / $2.30 |
| 1 | Arctic Arrogance | Jose Lezcano / Linda Rice | $2.60 / $2.10 |
| 5 | General Banker | Eric Cancel / James W. Ferraro | $3.50 |
| 7 | Andiamo a Firenze | Frankie Pennington / Kelly J. Breen | |
| 2 | Prove Right | Jose Antonio Gomez / James K. Chapman | |
| 3 | Jungfrau | Dylan Davis / William I. Mott | |
| 6 | Ninetyprcentmaddie | Abner Adorno / Robert E. Reid, Jr. |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1 Exacta (4-1) Paid: $5.40
- $0.50 Trifecta (4-1-5) Paid: $8.50
- $0.10 Superfecta (4-1-5-7) Paid: $6.87
Watch the 2023 Withers Stakes
The History of the Withers Stakes
The Withers Stakes has a storied history dating back to 1874 when it was run at Jerome Park. The race has been run at a number of different New York tracks including Belmont Park from 1984-1996 and three years in the 1950’s. The Withers is currently held on Aqueduct’s inner track in Queens, NY and it is a Grade III event for 3-year-olds with a purse of $250,000. The race is in early February and is a ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ prep race with the top five finishers earning Derby qualifying points (20-8-6-4-2). The Withers also serves as a prep race for the Wood Memorial in April at Aqueduct.
The Withers was historically run at a distance of 1 mile, and the race record was 1:32.40 by Williamstown (1993). The Withers distance was lengthened to 1 1/16 miles in 2012, and Far From Over (2015) holds that distance record at that length at 1:43.93. In 2019, the race was shortened to 1 1/8 miles, and that same year Tax set the speed record at that length by turning in a time of 1:50.27.
Notable horses have won the Withers throughout history, including Triple Crown winners Sir Barton (1919) and Count Fleet (1943). Sir Barton became the first winner of what would be known as the American Triple Crown. Man O’ War (1920) won 20-of-21 races including the Preakness and Belmont Stakes but skipped the Kentucky Derby. Native Dancer (1953) won 21-of-22 lifetime races with his lone loss in the Kentucky Derby. Additionally, 2006 winner Bernardini went on to win the Preakness Stakes that year.
The Withers was not run in 1911 or 1912 when the New York State legislated a ban on all forms of wagering on horses. Since Aqueduct’s opening in the mid 1970’s, the only horse hardy enough to race in the colder weather over the inner track and then go on to win the Kentucky Derby was 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones.
Withers Stakes Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Dist. (Miles) / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hit Show | Manuel Franco / Brad H. Cox | 11⁄8 M / 1:54.71 |
| 2022 | Early Voting | Jose L. Ortiz / Chad C. Brown | 11⁄8 M / 1:55.90 |
| 2021 | Risk Taking | Eric Cancel / Chad C. Brown | 11⁄8 M / 1:51.91 |
| 2020 | Max Player | Dylan Davis / Linda Rice | 11⁄8 M / 1:53.87 |
| 2019 | Tax | Junior Alvarado / Danny Gargan | 11⁄8 M / 1:50.27 |
| 2018 | Avery Island | Joe Bravo / Kiaran McLaughlin | 11⁄8 M / 1:51.01 |
| 2017 | El Areeb | Trevor McCarthy / Cathal Lynch | 11⁄16 M / 1:44.47 |
| 2016 | Sunny Ridge | Manuel Franco / Jason Servis | 11⁄16 M / 1:46.99 |
| 2015 | Far From Over | Manuel Franco / Todd Pletcher | 11⁄16 M / 1:43.93 |
| 2014 | Samraat | José Ortiz / Richard A. Violette Jr. | 11⁄16 M / 1:46.31 |
| 2013 | Revolutionary | Javier Castellano / Todd Pletcher | 11⁄16 M / 1:44.32 |
| 2012 | Alpha | Ramon A. Dominguez / Kiaran McLaughlin | 11⁄16 M / 1:44.23 |
| 2011 | Race not held | ||
| 2010 | Afleet Again | Abel Mariano / Robert Reid Jr. | 1 M / 1:34.05 |
| 2009 | Mr. Fantasy | Richard Migliore / Kiaran McLaughlin | 1 M / 1:34.91 |
| 2008 | Harlem Rocker | Eibar Coa / Todd Pletcher | 1 M / 1:34.50 |
| 2007 | Divine Park | Alan Garcia / Kiaran McLaughlin | 1 M / 1:34.65 |
| 2006 | Bernardini | Javier Castellano / Tom Albertrani | 1 M / 1:35.07 |
| 2005 | Scrappy T | Norberto Arroyo Jr. / W. Robert Bailes | 1 M / 1:35.60 |
| 2004 | Medallist | Jorge Chavez / H. Allen Jerkens | 1 M / 1:34.40 |
| 2003 | Spite the Devil | Luis Chavez / H. Allen Jerkens | 1 M / 1:35.80 |
| 2002 | Fast Decision | José A. Santos / Christophe Clement | 1 M / 1:36.40 |
| 2001 | Richly Blended | Rick Wilson / Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. | 1 M / 1:35.60 |
| 2000 | Big E E | Heberto Castillo Jr. / James A. Jerkens | 1 M / 1:35.60 |
| 1999 | Successful Appeal | Jose Espinoza / John C. Kimmel | 1 M / 1:35.00 |
| 1998 | Dice Dancer | Jorge Chavez / H. Allen Jerkens | 1 M / 1:34.40 |
| 1997 | Statesmanship | Herb McCauley / Christophe Clement | 1 M / 1:35.20 |
| 1996 | Appealing Skier | Rick Wilson / Ben W. Perkins Sr. | 1 M / 1:35.00 |
| 1995 | Blu Tusmani | José A. Santos / Christophe Clement | 1 M / 1:35.00 |
| 1994 | Twining | José A. Santos / Scotty Schulhofer | 1 M / 1:34.60 |
| 1993 | Williamstown | Craig Perret / Peter M. Vestal | 1 M / 1:32.40 |
| 1992 | Dixie Brass | Julio Pezua / Dennis J. Brida | 1 M / 1:33.60 |
| 1991 | Subordinated Debt | Julie Krone / David Monaci | 1 M / 1:34.00 |
| 1990 | Housebuster | Craig Perret / Warren A. Croll Jr. | 1 M / 1:34.80 |
| 1989 | Fire Maker | Jerry Bailey / William Badgett Jr. | 1 M / 1:36.40 |
| 1988 | Once Wild | Pat Day / John J. Lenzini Jr. | 1 M / 1:35.20 |
| 1987 | Gone West | Eddie Maple / Woody Stephens | 1 M / 1:36.40 |
| 1986 | Clear Choice | Jorge Velásquez / D. Wayne Lukas | 1 M / 1:35.60 |
| 1985 | El Basco | Jacinto Vásquez / Woodrow Sedlacek | 1 M / 1:36.60 |
| 1984 | Play On | Jean-Luc Samyn / William H. Turner Jr. | 1 M / 1:36.40 |
| 1983 | Country Pine | Jerry D. Bailey / Lou Rondinello | 1 M / 1:35.60 |
| 1982 | Aloma's Ruler | Jack Kaenel / John J. Lenzini Jr. | 1 M / 1:35.40 |
| 1981 | Spirited Boy | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Joseph Nash | 1 M / 1:36.80 |
| 1980 | Colonel Moran | Jorge Velásquez / Thomas J. Kelly | 1 M / 1:34.40 |
| 1979 | Czaravich | Jean Cruguet / William H. Turner Jr. | 1 M / 1:35.60 |
| 1978 | Junction | Mickey Solomone / Patrick J. Kelly | 1 M / 1:36.80 |
| 1977 | Iron Constitution | Jorge Velásquez / Thomas F. Root Jr. | 1 M / 1:37.00 |
| 1976 | Sonkisser | Braulio Baeza / Stephen A. DiMauro | 1 M / 1:35.00 |
| 1975 | Sarsar | Bill Shoemaker / David A. Whiteley | 1 M / 1:34.60 |
| 1974 | Accipiter | Angel Santiago / Pancho Martin | 1 M / 1:36.40 |
| 1973 | Linda's Chief | Braulio Baeza / Al Scotti | 1 M / 1:34.60 |
| 1972 | Key to the Mint | Braulio Baeza / J. Elliott Burch | 1 M / 1:34.80 |
| 1971 | Bold Reasoning | Jacinto Vásquez / Nick Gonzales | 1 M / 1:35.80 |
| 1970 | Hagley | Ron Turcotte / Woods Garth | 1 M / 1:34.80 |
| 1969 | Ack Ack † | Manuel Ycaza / Woody Stephens | 1 M / 1:34.80 |
| 1968 | Call Me Prince | William Boland / Max Hirsch | 1 M / 1:35.20 |
| 1967 | Dr. Fager | Braulio Baeza / John A. Nerud | 1 M / 1:33.80 |
| 1966 | Indulto | John L. Rotz / Max Hirsch | 1 M / 1:35.00 |
| 1965 | Flag Raiser | Bobby Ussery / Hirsch Jacobs | 1 M / 1:34.20 |
| 1964 | Mr. Brick | Bobby Ussery / James E. Picou | 1 M / 1:35.60 |
| 1963 | Get Around | Braulio Baeza / George T. Poole | 1 M / 1:36.60 |
| 1962 | Jaipur | Bill Shoemaker / Bert Mulholland | 1 M / 1:35.60 |
| 1961 | Hitting Away | Hedley Woodhouse / James Fitzsimmons | 1 M / 1:35.20 |
| 1960 | John William | Hedley Woodhouse / Bernie Fields | 1 M / 1:35.40 |
| 1959 | Intentionally | Manuel Ycaza / Edward Kelly Sr. | 1 M / 1:35.60 |
| 1958 | Sir Robby | Eric Guerin / Sidney J. Smith | 1 M / 1:36.20 |
| 1957 | Clem | Conn McCreary / William W. Stephens | 1 M / 1:36.80 |
| 1956 | Oh Johnny | Hedley Woodhouse / Norman McLeod | 11⁄16 M / 1:45.20 |
| 1955 | Traffic Judge | Eddie Arcaro / Woody Stephens | 1 M / 1:36.00 |
| 1954 | Jet Action | José Contreras / Edward A. Neloy | 1 M / 1:36.00 |
| 1953 | Native Dancer | Eric Guerin / William C. Winfrey | 1 M / 1:36.20 |
| 1952 | Armageddon | Raymond York / Moody Jolley | 1 M / 1:37.00 |
| 1951 | Battlefield | Eddie Arcaro / Bert Mulholland | 1 M / 1:35.80 |
| 1950 | Hill Prince | Eddie Arcaro / Casey Hayes | 1 M / 1:35.80 |
| 1949 | Olympia | Eddie Arcaro / Ivan H. Parke | 1 M / 1:36.80 |
| 1948 | Vulcan's Forge | Douglas Dodson / Sylvester Veitch | 1 M / 1:37.40 |
| 1947 | Faultless | Douglas Dodson / Horace A. Jones | 1 M / 1:38.20 |
| 1946 | Hampden | Eddie Arcaro / Richard E. Handlen | 1 M / 1:36.00 |
| 1945 | Polynesian | Wayne D. Wright / Morris H. Dixon | 1 M / 1:39.80 |
| 1944 | Who Goes There | Johnny Longden / Bert Mulholland | 1 M / 1:38.00 |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden / Don Cameron | 1 M / 1:36.00 |
| 1942 | Alsab | Basil James / Sarge Swenke | 1 M / 1:36.20 |
| 1941 | King Cole | John Gilbert / James Fitzsimmons | 1 M / 1:38.20 |
| 1940 | Corydon | Eddie Arcaro / John M. Gaver Sr. | 1 M / 1:37.20 |
| 1939 | Johnstown | James Stout / James Fitzsimmons | 1 M / 1:35.80 |
| 1938 | Menow | Charles Kurtsinger / Duval A. Headley | 1 M / 1:37.40 |
| 1937 | Flying Scot | John Gilbert / James W. Healy | 1 M / 1:37.40 |
| 1936 | White Cockade | Eddie Litzenberger / James Fitzsimmons | 1 M / 1:37.20 |
| 1935 | Rosemont | Wayne D. Wright / Richard E. Handlen | 1 M / 1:36.60 |
| 1934 | Singing Wood | Robert Jones / James W. Healy | 1 M / 1:37.80 |
| 1933 | The Darb | Alfred Robertson / Thomas J. Healey | 1 M / 1:39.00 |
| 1932 | Boatswain | Alfred Robertson / Preston M. Burch | 1 M / 1:39.80 |
| 1931 | Jamestown | Linus McAtee / A. Jack Joyner | 1 M / 1:36.60 |
| 1930 | Whichone | Raymond Workman / Thomas J. Healey | 1 M / 1:38.20 |
| 1929 | Blue Larkspur | Mack Garner / Herbert J. Thompson | 1 M / 1:36.00 |
| 1928 | Victorian | Raymond Workman / James G. Rowe Jr. | 1 M / 1:39.00 |
| 1927 | Chance Shot | Earl Sande / Pete Coyne | 1 M / 1:39.80 |
| 1926 | Haste | Earl Sande / G. Hamilton Keene | 1 M / 1:37.60 |
| 1925 | American Flag | Albert Johnson / Gwyn R. Tompkins | 1 M / 1:38.20 |
| 1924 | Bracadale | Earl Sande / Sam Hildreth | 1 M / 1:39.00 |
| 1923 | Zev | Earl Sande / David J. Leary | 1 M / 1:37.40 |
| 1922 | Snob II | Clarence Kummer / William Garth | 1 M / 1:35.80 |
| 1921 | Leonardo II | Andy Schuttinger / Kimball Patterson | 1 M / 1:37.40 |
| 1920 | Man o' War | Clarence Kummer / Louis Feustel | 1 M / 1:35.80 |
| 1919 | Sir Barton | Johnny Loftus / H. Guy Bedwell | 1 M / 1:38.80 |
| 1918 | Motor Cop | Edward Taplin / Walter B. Jennings | 1 M / 1:39.60 |
| 1917 | Hourless | Jimmy Butwell / Sam Hildreth | 1 M / 1:39.00 |
| 1916 | Spur | Johnny Loftus / James H. McCormick | 1 M / 1:38.40 |
| 1915 | The Finn | George Byrne / Edward W. Heffner | 1 M / 1:39.40 |
| 1914 | Charlestonian | Charles Burlingame / George W. Langdon | 1 M / 1:39.80 |
| 1913 | Rock View | James H. Butwell / Sam Hildreth | 1 M / 1:39.40 |
| 1912 | No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law | ||
| 1911 | |||
| 1910 | The Turk | Matt McGee / Richard O. Miller | 1 M / 1:40.00 |
| 1909 | Hilarious | James H. Butwell / James G. Rowe Sr. | 1 M / 1:41.20 |
| 1908 | Colin | Joe Notter / James G. Rowe Sr. | 1 M / 1:41.00 |
| 1907 | Frank Gill | Joe Notter / John I. Smith | 1 M / 1:40.00 |
| 1906 | Accountant | Jack Martin / Robert Tucker | 1 M / 1:38.80 |
| 1905 | Blandy | Willie Davis / A. Jack Joyner | 1 M / 1:44.60 |
| 1904 | Delhi | George Odom / James G. Rowe Sr. | 1 M / 1:40.00 |
| 1903 | Shorthose | William Haack / W. Fred Presgrave | 1 M / 1:41.00 |
| 1902 | Compute | Willie Shaw / R. W. Walden | 1 M / 1:42.00 |
| 1901 | The Parader | Frank Landry / Thomas J. Healey | 1 M / 1:42.50 |
| 1900 | Kilmarnock | Nash Turner / John W. Rogers | 1 M / 1:41.25 |
| 1899 | Jean Bereaud | Richard Clawson / Sam Hildreth | 1 M / 1:42.25 |
| 1898 | The Huguenot | Henry Spencer / Lewis S. Thompson | 1 M / 1:43.00 |
| 1897 | Octagon | Willie Simms / John J. Hyland | 1 M / 1:43.00 |
| 1896 | Handspring | Willie Simms / Frank McCabe | 1 M / 1:41.00 |
| 1895 | Lucania | Lester Reiff / John W. Rogers | 1 M / 1:41.75 |
| 1894 | Domino | Fred Taral / William Lakeland | 1 M / 1:40.00 |
| 1893 | Dr. Rice | Fred Taral / Fred Foster | 1 M / 1:42.00 |
| 1892 | Tammany | Edward Garrison / Matthew Byrnes | 1 M / 1:40.00 |
| 1891 | Picknicker | Fred Littlefield / Louis Stuart | 1 M / 1:40.75 |
| 1890 | King Eric | Edward Garrison / Barney Riley | 1 M / 1:41.00 |
| 1889 | Diabolo | P. Godfrey / James Dumas | 1 M / 1:45.00 |
| 1888 | Sir Dixon | W. Fitzgerald / Frank McCabe | 1 M / 1:47.75 |
| 1887 | Hanover | Jim McLaughlin / Frank McCabe | 1 M / 1:46.50 |
| 1886 | Biggonet | Robert M. Maynard / William P. Burch | 1 M / 1:48.00 |
| 1885 | Tyrant | Patsy Duffy / William R. Claypool | 1 M / 1:45.25 |
| 1884 | Panique | William J. Fitzpatrick / James G. Rowe Sr. | 1 M / 1:45.25 |
| 1883 | George Kinney | Jim McLaughlin / James G. Rowe Sr. | 1 M / 1:45.00 |
| 1882 | Forester | Jim McLaughlin / Lewis Stewart | 1 M / 1:46.50 |
| 1881 | Crickmore | Lloyd Hughes / Bill Bird | 1 M / 1:48.00 |
| 1880 | Ferncliffe | William Barrett / William R. Babcock | 1 M / 1:49.00 |
| 1879 | Dan Sparling | Mr. Kelly / Thomas Puryear | 1 M / 1:48.00 |
| 1878 | Duke of Magenta | Lloyd Hughes / R. Wyndham Walden | 1 M / 1:48.00 |
| 1877 | Bombast | William Barrett / William Prior | 1 M / 1:46.00 |
| 1876 | Fiddlesticks | Edward Feakes / Jacob Pincus | 1 M / 1:46.50 |
| 1875 | Aristides | Robert Swim / Ansel Williamson | 1 M / 1:45.75 |
| 1874 | Dublin | R. Ponton / not yet found | 1 M / 1:50.00 |