Withers

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $150,000 Withers S. (G3), which will be run out of the chute on
the main track at Aqueduct, matches an excellent field of eight sophomores.
PROUD ACCOLADE (Yes It’s True) is winless from three attempts around two turns,
but the Grade 1 winner is four-for-four in one-turn races and should relish the
cutback off a disappointing sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Rushaway S. at Turfway
Park.

In his seasonal bow, Proud Accolade ran a huge race in the 7 1/2-furlong
Hutcheson S. (G2), rating off the early pace before offering a dynamic turn of
foot to inhale his rivals. He earned a 102 BRIS Speed rating for that
performance, similar to the Speed figures he earned in one-turn races last
season, and the Todd Pletcher trainee simply doesn’t want any part of longer
distances. We’ll throw out his last race and look for a return to glory for the
talented dark bay colt.

B. B. BEST (Yes It’s True) is a wire-to-wire threat. The speedy colt displayed
commendable class in his last two starts, recording third-place finishes in the
Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth S. (G2), and he’s probably better suited
to middle distances. The Ed Plesa charge has been training well for this
appearance and ran a good fourth last fall in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) when
shipping out of South Florida. B. B. Best could prove impossible to reel in if
allowed to set moderate fractions on the lead, but there is some other speed in
the field.

SCRAPPY T (Fit to Fight) could come out winging it but will likely settle
into a close tracking position. The gelding exits a third in the Wood Memorial
(G1) and ran well over the winter in shorter events for trainer Robert Bailes,
winning the Count Fleet S. and finishing a fine third in the Whirlaway S.
Scrappy T owns a 1-2-0 mark from three starts at a mile and can record another
top three placing in this spot.

SURVIVALIST (Danzig), who was seriously considered for an appearance in the
Kentucky Derby (G1), cuts back to a one-turn mile and could come up a little
short. The Shug McGaughey trainee remains a top contender for an in-the-money
finish, but Survivalist would probably need the leaders to completely collapse
in the stretch, like they did when he won the Gotham S. (G3), for him to prove successful
from off the pace. We’re surprised he didn’t remain in two-turn events.

PARK AVENUE BALL (Citidancer) offered a decent rally for fourth in the
Florida Derby last out and showed his affinity for a one-turn mile last fall
when capturing the Futurity S. (G2) at Belmont Park. The chestnut earned his first
century-topping Speed figure (102) and appears to be on the improve for trainer
Jim Ryerson. Consider Park Avenue Ball for the exotics. NAUGHTY NEW YORKER
(Quiet American) is a late-running contender who will try to turn things around
off a poor showing in the Wood. The track was very speed-favoring that
afternoon, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see the New York-bred bounce back
with a much improved showing. He broke his maiden by 10 1/4 lengths at this
distance over a sloppy main track last November and is better at middle
distances.

WAR PLAN (Fusaichi Pegasus) owns only a maiden win, will be making his
stakes bow, and the Allen Jerkens charge doesn’t own strong Speed ratings from
his limited starts. The dark bay could challenge for the early lead, but he
probably won’t be able to sustain his run throughout. ANTHONY J. (Tiger Ridge)
makes his seasonal bow for Bill Perry and doesn’t look fast enough to challenge
here.