Aqueduct Updates: Friday’s Big Winners Doing Well, Future Targets Planned

[Wandering Eyes]

Aqueduct saw a fleet of prep races for major spring targets Friday, and the connections of those winners have largely reported good prognoses for their stars as they chart out future targets.

Upset winner of the Withers Stakes Talk to Me Jimmy (Modernist) has reportedly come out of his 11-length tour-de-force in good form despite grabbing his front right quarter at some point during the contest. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez reports the colt was in good spirits Saturday morning but that a vet would look at it as a precaution.

“Thank God, everything looks good,” Rodriguez said. “I'm not too sure where in the race he grabbed himself, maybe a little past the half-mile pole. The little cut on his foot isn't too bad, but we'll just make sure with the vet. He's comfortable this morning and we're very happy with the way he ran.”

While initially stating after the race that the most likely target for Talk to Me Jimmy would be the GII Wood Memorial, Rodriguez has made plans to nominate the son of Modernist to at least four upcoming stakes races, including the local options–the GIII Gotham at a one-turn mile (50-point Derby qualifier race) Feb. 28; and the nine-furlong GII Wood Memorial Stakes (100-point Derby qualifier race) Apr. 4. Out of town options include the one-mile Miracle Wood Stakes Feb. 21 and the 1 1/16-miles  Private Terms Stakes Mar. 21, both in Maryland.

“Let's see what the owners want to do,” Rodriguez said, noting the Wood Memorial is a logical spot. “They said to nominate him for the Gotham and the couple of races at Laurel, too.”

Two Bits Possible for Gazelle After Ruthless Victory

Two Bits (American Pharoah) made her rival work for every step of the stretch battle in the Ruthless Stakes, and still would not be denied. Now, trainer Amelia Green reports that the daughter of the 2015 Triple Crown winner is under consideration for a tilt at the GIII Gazelle Stakes (a 100-point race toward entry in the Kentucky Oaks) on Wood Memorial Day Apr. 4.

“With her liking this track, it's a big help for us,” Green said. “We'll keep all options open this time of year. She'll probably be nominated to a couple of different ones at the beginning of April and [we will] pick our spot after that, but I'd say the Gazelle is the top pick right now.”

“[Two Bits] looks great. She jogged up great and has been whinnying for peppermints all morning. I don't think it took a whole lot out of her.”

Green has worked with a number of Oaks-quality fillies during her time as an assistant for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, including 2021 victress Malathaat (Curlin). The prospect of returning for America's premier spring Classic for fillies with one of her own is an enticing one, but not a deal-breaker for the conditioner.

Two Bits (inside) | Coglianese

“It would be great,” Green said. “It was not the be all end all for her. I think she's a nice filly no matter what, but if she takes us there, we're not going to say no.”

A stablemate Ivy Girl (Maxfield), scratched from the Ruthless, has been rerouted to New Mexico for a potential try at the Sunland Oaks Feb. 15. The two-turn mile carries 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

“We knew going in [to the Ruthless] that seven furlongs was on the shorter side. We opted to scratch and wait for a better spot,” Green said. “I plan on entering her tomorrow [Sunday] for the Sunland Oaks and seeing how that comes up. This time of year with 3-year-old fillies, you have plenty of options and I'd like to give her a chance to go two turns somewhere.”

The trainer is also looking at targeting the GIII Gotham with Funny Cide Stakes winner Minorinconvenience (Mendelssohn), but hasn't ruled out a start in the New York-bred restricted Gander Stakes Mar. 7 depending on who shows up for the former.

“If the Gotham comes up light, he's training well enough that I'd like to give him a chance there, but obviously the Gander would be a logical starting spot with him being a New York-bred. I like that they're both a mile, so we don't have to start going a mile and an eighth.”

Be You Under Consideration for Carter After Toboggan Win

Grade I-placed Be You (Curlin) has come out of his win in the Toboggan Stakes in good form, and is now under strong consideration for the GII Carter Handicap after producing a 95 Beyer figure Friday afternoon, just one shy of his career-best at the same distance in his 2024 maiden win at Gulfstream.

“Obviously we were very happy with that effort,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “It seems like he now kind of specializes at that seven-furlong distance, so we are pretty happy with that. He seems to have come out of the race nicely so far.”

Providing an update on Grittiness (Curlin), who was a well-beaten second in the Withers Stakes behind Talk to Me Jimmy, the conditioner reports he was happy with the rally his charge gave after his troubles going into the first turn.

“[Grittiness] got bumped pretty hard going into the first turn. He lost a little bit of position. I thought he rallied pretty well considering the way the track was playing and where he was early. Happy with his performance.”

The Repole Stables colorbearer's current plan has the chestnut pointing for the Virginia Derby Mar. 14 at Colonial Downs, the newest 50-point qualifier for the Kentucky Derby.

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