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Tencendur won inpressively on Jan. 19 at Aqueduct and has a chance to spring an upset at a nice price on Saturday in the Withers Stakes. (Photo by Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
The Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep race on Saturday at Aqueduct, is where we find this week’s upset special: Tencendur (12-1 on the morning line).
The field of seven runners features two big favorites in Classy Class (2-1) and El Kaieber (8-5). And, with a short field and two strong favorites, value and opportunity await if you can find the longshot.
Tencendur is in very good form heading into his third lifetime start. His last race was better than it looks as he got free late and won rather easily while being anxiously ridden by an inexperienced rider.
Visually speaking, the horse looks like he will like the added distance and, in only his third lifetime start, has potential to improve. He picks up a more experienced jockey in Cornelio Velasquez and is trained by George Weaver, an excellent trainer who wins at a 20% clip at Aqueduct.
A ground-saving trip close to the rail and a late closing kick would be his ideal running style in this field.
$250,000 Grade 3 Withers Stakes
Race 8 at Aqueduct on Saturday, Post Time 4:13 p.m. ET
1 1/16 miles on the dirt for 3-year-olds
PP |
Horse |
Jockey |
Wgt |
Trainer |
M/L |
1 |
Classy Class |
Irad Ortiz, Jr. |
116 |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
2-1 |
2 |
Far From Over |
Manuel Franco |
116 |
Todd Pletcher |
5-1 |
3 |
March |
Jose Ortiz |
116 |
Chad Brown |
6-1 |
4 |
Tencendur |
Cornelio Velasquez |
116 |
George Weaver |
12-1 |
5 |
Unrivaled |
Frankie Pennington |
116 |
Marya Montoya |
20-1 |
6 |
General Bellamy |
Junior Alvarado |
116 |
Bill Mott |
15-1 |
7 |
El Kabeir |
CC Lopez |
122 |
John Terranova, II |
8-5 |