First Look: Withers is 1 of 3 Kentucky Derby preps this week

The rescheduled Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct could have a bigger field, Dubyuhnell has his 2023 debut in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, and Golden Gate Fields hosts the El Camino Real Derby. Those three Kentucky Derby points preps highlight the weekend calendar.

In the only Kentucky Oaks points prep this week, Eclipse Award winner Wonder Wheel meets Malathaat's full sister Julia Shining in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay.

Here's an early look at the likely fields in weekend graded stakes and Derby and Oaks points preps.

Saturday

Withers (G3), Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

The six who were entered for this race before it was canceled last weekend are expected to remain in the field, which will be redrawn Wednesday. Hit Show, rerouted here from the Southwest (G3), is 2-for-3 and finished fourth in his only trip beyond a mile. After a 9 1/4-length debut win in October, Mr. Ripple was third by a nose last out in an optional-claiming allowance at Gulfstream. Arctic Arrogance has a record of 5: 2-3-0, but his last two losses each were by only a half-length in the Jerome and the Remsen (G2). Three others were added as possible: Classic Catch, Jungfrau and Thirsty John, who also is listed as probable for the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

Sam F. Davis (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Dubyuhnell comes back from his Remsen victory for his first start of 2023. Litigate broke his maiden on first try but couldn’t keep up with Cyclone Mischief in an optional-claiming allowance last out. Zydeceaux won the Pasco here by a neck over Champions Dream, who was coming off a win in the Nashua (G3). Prairie Hawk led at every call last out to win an optional-claiming allowance here.

El Camino Real Derby (listed), Golden Gate Fields, 1 1/8 miles (synthetic), 3-year-olds, 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Thirsty John led at every call last out in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita, his first start since he broke his maiden in his May debut. Bob Baffert’s Gilmore and Nullarbor both are coming off maiden wins. Chase the Chaos has a record of 5: 2-2-1 and is coming off a win in an optional-claiming allowance at Golden Gate on Dec. 30.

Suncoast (listed), Tampa Bay Downs, one mile and 40 yards, 3-year-old fillies, 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

Wonder Wheel, champion female 2-year-old and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Alicibiades (G1), makes her 2023 debut in this race. Julia Shining, a full sister to Malathaat, won the Demoiselle (G2) by a neck in her last start to go 2-for-2. Opus Forty Two won her last two starts, including the Gasparilla here by a nose over Charlie’s Wish, also expected in this race.

Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3), Gulfstream, five furlongs (turf), 4-year-olds and up

County Final switches between dirt and turf; he finished fifth last out in a seven-furlong dirt race here. Before that, he won a Churchill Downs optional-claiming allowance race at five furlongs. Carotari was 2-for-5 last year with his last score two starts back in the Laurel Dash at this distance.

Sweet Life (G3), Santa Anita, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), 3-year-old fillies

The second- and third-place finishers from last month’s Santa Ynez (G3) could meet again here. Satin Doll was a head in front of Fast and Shiny in the seven-furlong race. Manhattan Jungle came back from her eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to finish second in the Blue Norther, ahead of several possible in this race.