Withers Stakes 2024 Picks

By Jarrod Horak

The road to Kentucky Derby 2024 continues at Aqueduct on Saturday, February 3, and I have included Withers Stakes 2024 picks below. The Grade 3 event for 3-year-olds has a $250,000 purse and the nine entrants will be journeying 1 1/18 miles on the main track. The Withers is the 9th race on Feb. 3 and the top five finishers will earn Kentucky Derby points (20-10-6-4-2). 

Withers Stakes 2024 Picks & Final Time Ratings

Lightline romped by 13 lengths as the favorite in his Horseshoe Indy bow last September. He stalked and was clearly second best in a dirt route at Keeneland second time out, and rallied wide from last place to land the place in a 12-horse optional-claiming route at Oaklawn last time. Brad Cox’s versatile $600k City of Light colt gets the services of Manny Franco and a stalking trip is anticipated. 

Mission Beach pressed from 2nd and edged clear in his six panel bow at Del Mar last summer. He shipped to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Hopeful second time out, and he dueled through quick fractions and split a 10-horse field. He was back in California for the Grade 3 Bob Hope on Nov. 19, and he dueled and faded in a race dominated by his stablemate Nysos. He moved from the Bob Baffert shedrow to the Brittany Russell barn in Maryland, and he showed a new closing dimension in a sharp dirt sprint win as the favorite at Laurel on Dec. 22. The $400k Curlin colt tries two turns for the first time. 

Uncle Heavy beat a next-out winner in his sprint debut at Parx last fall. He had a bad start from the inside post in the Pennsylvania Nursery second time out, and stretched out and rallied for the win in PA-bred dirt route stakes on Dec. 27. He might be in the mix for a minor award from off the pace.  

The Withers field also includes Speed Runner, Deposition, New York-bred stakes winner El Grande O, Seminole Chief, Society Man, and Khanate.

Withers Stakes 2024 Picks

The Withers Stakes is my 15th video on the road to Kentucky Derby 2024, and my top choices have three wins, four runner-up finishes, and two show finishes. I will cover each points race on the Kentucky Derby trail. Check out my Withers Stakes 2024 picks video below.