Max Player puts Rice on Derby trail with Withers Stakes win
Known more for her prowess with New York-breds, trainer Linda Rice welcomed herself to the 2020 Kentucky Derby trail on Saturday when Max Player rallied to win Aqueduct racetrack’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes.
The son of Honor Code swept past the dueling stakes winners Shotski and Monday Morning Qb in deep stretch under Dylan Davis, finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.87.
It was an auspicious jump in class for George Hall's colt, who opened his career with a runner-up and victory on the Parx Racing circuit.
“Frankly, about the time he was ready to get a start into him was Cigar Mile day," Rice said. "I really didn’t want to pour him into a split division of about $6 million worth of horses in both races. He had not shown a lot of precociousness in his workouts up to that point. I just wanted to get him going, so I thought that was the right spot.”
With a Dec. 17 maiden win to his name, Max Player sat mid-pack in the Withers, appearing content to wait behind a trio of dueling leaders. After Shotski, Vanzzy and New Commission ran three-wide through the turn, Max Player ranged up four-wide near the top of the stretch, then ground past them all.
Away at 5-1, Max Player returned $12.80 to win.
“He’s been becoming more professional all the time in his morning workouts and things," Rice said. "Anyone that watches the two races at Parx can see he’s pretty green and ran pretty green into the dirt.”
"He broke well for me today, and right when the first kickback came to him into the first turn, he immediately got distracted," the jockey Davis added. "I got him back outside and he got on pace and started running well. Going into the second turn, he was traveling well and I had to get into him early because he started getting a little green. Once he got to the stretch he was all business.
Behind Max Player, Shotski, the Remsen Stakes (G2) winner at this same trip in his previous start, held on for second. Portos ran on late for third, nipping Monday Morning Qb, who was away slowly from the gate and certainly could have placed better with a smooth trip.
The Withers awards its Top 4 finishers Derby qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 basis. The payouts increase in New York’s final preps, the Gotham (G3) and Wood Memorial (G2).
Rice said she's unlikely to shorten up Max Player to a one-turn mile in the Gotham. The Wood Memorial is an option as his final prep.
"Whether we do something in between," Rice said, "George and I will have to figure that out."