Aqueduct Stakes Previews: : $200K Withers, $135K Ruthless

Posted On 29 Jan 2026

By Christian Abdo —-

Schoolyardsuperman will be tested in Listed $200K Withers

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Hit The Bid Racing Stable’s Schoolyardsuperman impressed to break his maiden last out and will make his stakes debut in Saturday’s Listed $200,000 Withers, a nine-furlong route for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Withers, a prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, will award the top-five finishers 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points, respectively, towards the prestigious Grade 1 test in May at Churchill Downs.

Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, Schoolyardsuperman will not only be tested stepping up in class off his 5 3/4-length victory in a one-turn mile maiden on December 6 here, but also traveling two turns for the first time. The Practical Joke gray’s two prior starts were sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs here, clipping heels and falling midway through his September debut ahead of a second to Epic Summer in October.

In his win, Schoolyardsuperman [post 1, Manny Franco] pressed the pace under returning rider Manny Franco before lengthening his margin at every point of call en route to an easy score in a final time of 1:36.68, registering a career and field-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Schoolyardsuperman, a $150,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, was bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm. The Lexington-based farm bred Reincarnate [13th], a participant in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, and hopes to add another Classic contender to its resume in Schoolyardsuperman.

“He was a very good looking horse from the start,” said Peter O’Callaghan, owner of Woods Edge Farm, regarding Schoolyardsuperman. “A big, strapping gray horse. Correct horse. He moved well. He was imposing. A very, very good-looking horse. He looks like a good prospect. Whether he can win the Withers or not, I don’t know, but he looks like a horse with some decent standard.”

Schoolyardsuperman is out of the winning Tiznow mare Tizlegal, who Woods Edge Farm purchased for $25,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Tizlegal is a half-sister to reigning Grade 2 Carter-winner Crazy Mason, out of the graded stakes-placed Maria’s Mon mare Izshelegal.

“Tizlegal is very Maria’s Mon, a real quality gray mare. She is more Maria’s Mon than Tiznow. That is a nice family, a young active family, with some decent back family,” O’Callaghan said. “Crazy Mason has come up in the meantime, but I just knew that family was current, always stuff going on and we got lucky there.”

O’Callaghan spoke on the pairing between Practical Joke and Tizlegal, who has emerged as a classy broodmare having also produced the stakes-placed 4-year-old Kantharos filly Velvet Devil.

“The main factors were physical, speed and price,” O’Callaghan said. “I thought this was a very good physical mating. Practical Joke is a very good-looking horse. He is a big, strong horse with a decent hip on him. She [Tizlegal] is about 16.2 hands, very refined quality, Maria’s Mon type. He is a very solid, proven sire. He has made a significant jump in the last few years.”

Brown will also send out Three Chimneys Farm’s Kentucky homebred Ottinho [post 6, Flavien Prat], a second-out local maiden winner by Quality Road that has been followed intently as a half-brother to Hall of Famer Gun Runner.

Ottinho, over course and distance last out on December 31, led through three quarters in 1:14.87 under returning rider Flavien Prat after breaking from the rail. The bay was met with a challenge from stablemate Hadrian’s Wall, who stuck his head in front at the eighth-pole, but Ottinho battled back to the inside and prevailed by a head in a final time of 1:54.07.

Ottinho was previously a rallying third to next-out stakes-placed Enforced Agenda in his one-turn mile debut in November here after hitting the gate at the start and traveling 7th-of-8 through the half-mile. His Beyers jumped from 71 to 82 over the course of his two starts and he certainly has the pedigree as a half-brother to Gun Runner and a full-brother to 2024 Grade 3 Comely-winner Pretty Ana, out of the Grade 2-winning Giant’s Causeway mare Quiet Giant.

Brown seeks his third Withers victory to go along with Risk Taking [2021] and future Preakness-winner Early Voting [2022].

Cash is King and LC Racing’s Pennsylvania homebred Mailata [post 5, Mychel Sanchez] caught eyes when dominating the seven-furlong Parx Future Stars by 19 lengths on December 30 at its namesake oval. Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., the Maximus Mischief bay took on just two rivals and was a close third through the opening quarter-mile, but took over from there and romped under returning rider Mychel Sanchez.

“He didn’t come away real clean, but I liked the way he rated behind horses. When the jock asked him, he moved forward handily, so he was real on top of things that day,” said Reid, Jr., who has won the Withers with Afleet Again [2010] and Uncle Heavy [2024].

Mailata’s final time of 1:27.20 earned a 73 Beyer, lower than the 80 he received previously for a 3 1/2-length pacesetting score in the seven-furlong Pennsylvania Nursery versus fellow state-breds on November 26 at Parx Racing. He was under wraps in his recent effort and improved to 3-for-3 since adding blinkers for a third-out graduation going a two-turn mile in October at Parx.

“It really seems to have sharpened up his focus and he’s really paying attention to what he’s doing on the track,” Reid, Jr. said of the blinkers.

Mailata has made all five career starts at Parx, finishing third in his August debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs ahead of a fourth going 6 1/2 furlongs one month later. He is a half-brother to stakes-winner Jeanne Marie out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Bouquet of Gold and his second dam is Grade 3-winner Bouquet Booth.

Stony Pointe Stables’ Fourth and One [post 2, Jaime Rodriguez] was dual stakes-placed before his last-out fourth start graduation with blinkers off in a one-turn mile maiden versus fellow New York-breds on December 5 here. Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the Maxfield gelding was second on debut in the six-furlong Funny Cide in August at Saratoga Race Course, ahead of a maiden second at the same distance at Belmont at the Big A and a third in the one-mile state-bred Sleepy Hollow here.

“He’s had some ability since he came in last summer,” Englehart said. “He’s a horse that has had to mature a little bit and grow up as far as training and race scenarios go. I think taking the blinkers off has helped him. I like where he is at and I’m excited to see what he can do this weekend.”

Fourth and One, bred in the Empire State by Chesapeake Farm, Rockridge Stud, Tamie Semler and John McConnell, was purchased for $240,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Mixed Sale. He is out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Wajeeha, a half-sister to multiple group-placed Zainhom.

“I thought he probably would want to stretch out,” said Englehart. “He has made the transition from six furlongs to further in his starts. I’m not overly concerned about this distance, but obviously he hasn’t gone a mile and an eighth yet. I thought this was the right opportunity for him.”

Bran Jam Stable and David Clark’s Star Sweeper [post 8, Angel Rodriguez] is cross-entered in the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid on Saturday at Parx. Trained by Louis Linder, Jr., the Rock Your World gray stalked to a 2 1/4-length victory in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer last out on December 24 at Parx.

Star Sweeper graduated on debut in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on September 20 at Parx ahead of off-the-board stakes tries when fifth in the two turn-mile Rocky Run in October at Delaware Park and eighth in the six-furlong James F. Lewis, III in November at Laurel Park.

Rounding out the field are a pair of maiden winners including the Florida-based Project Ace [post 3, Corey Lanerie], cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park for Eclipse Award-winner Dale Romans and the New York-bred Talk to Me Jimmy [post 4, Ruben Silvera] for conditioner Rudy Rodriguez; as well as the maiden Grittiness [post 7, Ricardo Santana, Jr., blinkers OFF] for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher – a three-time Withers winner with Harlem Rocker [2008], Revolutionary [2013] and Far From Over [2015].

The Withers is slated as Race 9 on Saturday’s 10-race card, which also includes the Listed $150,000 Toboggan [Race 2], the $135,000 Ruthless [Race 4] and the re-scheduled $135,000 Ladies [Race 6]. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races presents live coverage and analysis of every day of the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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Shilling cuts back in $135K Ruthless

$135K Ladies sees much of original field re-enter after rescheduling

By Mary Eddy —-

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Fern Circle Stables’ Shilling is already a stakes-winner around one-turn at Aqueduct Racetrack, and cuts back from nine furlongs to seven furlongs in Saturday’s $135,000 Ruthless for sophomore fillies.

Trained by Ken McPeek, Shilling captured the Big A’s Listed Tempted traveling one mile two starts back on November 6, setting a pressured pace early through splits of 23.18 seconds and 47.30 under returning rider Chris Elliott before shaking off her rivals and extending her margin to 4 1/2 lengths at the stretch call. She kept on willingly in the lane to cross the wire four lengths in front of Believable in a final time of 1:38.45, earning a 65 Beyer Speed Figure in victory.

McPeek said Shilling has thrived in New York, where her day-to-day training is overseen by assistant trainer and multiple Grade 1-winner Jimmy Jerkens.

“She’s been a total pro, and most of the time I would bring a horse like her south, but she’s been in a good rhythm and routine there in New York with Jimmy,” McPeek said. “I decided to leave her there because it seems like these races are lining up for her. This race in particular is ideal.”

Last out, the daughter of Global Campaign stretched out to nine furlongs for her first try against graded company in the Grade 2 Demoiselle on December 6. There, she set the pace under Elliott after being bumped at the start, and was overtaken in the turn before weakening to finish fourth, 12 1/4 lengths back of the victorious Zany.

Shilling had been entered in the one-turn mile Busanda on January 3 here, but scratched the day of due to a small cut on her leg that was inflamed.

“She had a little puncture and some inflammation from it, so she couldn’t run with that, but I think she would have been competitive in that spot if she had been able to run,” McPeek said. “I think the seven-eighths here is a good distance for her.”

Shilling graduated at second asking and earned a field-best 76 Beyer with a wire-to-wire trip over course and distance in an October maiden tilt, where next-out winner Britain finished third. The $105,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is out of the winning Exchange Rate mare Pounds to Pennies.

Elliott returns to the irons from post 4.

Titletown Racing Stables’ Kentucky homebred Interstatelovesong [post 3, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] steps up to stakes company off a strong graduation at second asking on December 26 here for trainer Tom Morley.

The daughter of Bolt d’Oro led at every point of call under returning rider Ricardo Santana, Jr. in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, shaking off early pressure from longshot Call Me Jal to bound clear at the stretch call and win by five lengths in a final time of 1:19.87. She was awarded a 69 Beyer, a seven-point improvement from her seven-furlong debut second to Britain in November.

“She’s a big filly, and my only concern is, what did she beat last time,” Morley said. “She was 2-5 there, and I think she ran in an OK maiden the first time, but she’s a big girl and she’ll improve with every race.”

Interstatelovesong returned to the work tab on January 15 at Belmont Park, covering a half-mile in 49 seconds flat over the training track in company with stakes-placed 4-year-old Paula’s a Star. She followed with a similar move on Thursday when covering the distance in 49.77.

“She’s had two works since her last race and worked with Paula’s a Star last week and worked with an unraced 3-year-old filly [on Thursday],” Morley said. “She’s a very straightforward filly and we’re just trying to keep her ticking over. Hopefully, she can get some black type. Her weight’s great, she’s eating really well and moving well, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

A $90,000 RNA at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Interstatelovesong is a full-sister to stakes-placed Navy Man and is out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Gentle Humor. Her second dam is multiple graded stakes-winner Be Gentle.

EGL-One Racing’s stakes-placed Two Bits [post 6, Jaime Rodriguez] was last seen finishing a distant second to Dazzling Dame in the Busanda, where she made a rally from last-of-5 but proved no match for the runaway winner. She was awarded a 72 Beyer for the effort, as well as 10 qualifying points for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Trained by Amelia Green, the American Pharoah bay graduated two starts back at fourth asking with a 1 3/4-length score over next-out winner Three Sixty in a one-turn mile maiden here. She was previously off-the-board in her other efforts, including a fourth to Dazzling Dame in the one-mile White Clay Creek around two turns in October at Delaware Park.

The $75,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is out of the winning Bernardini mare Spare Change, who also produced Grade 3-placed winners Storie Blue and Roman Centurian.

Green also entered Lucky Hat Racing’s Ivy Girl [post 5, Jose Gomez] on the back of a well-beaten sixth in the Demoiselle. The Maxfield bay graduated two starts back in a $40,000 maiden claiming tilt around a one-turn mile here in November and has made each of her three starts at one mile and over.

Trainer Louis Linder, Jr. has entered a pair of contenders in last-out maiden-winner Courage On Tap [post 7, Luis Ocasio] and maiden Haunting Echoes [post 1, Angel Rodriguez]. Both fillies are campaigned by BranJam Stables and David W. Clark, who teamed up with Linder, Jr. to win last year’s Ruthless with the North Carolina-bred Volleyballprincess.

Courage On Tap makes her stakes debut off a fifth-out graduation with a stalk-and-pounce victory in a one-mile and 70-yard maiden special weight on December 22 at Parx Racing. There, she made her first start for her current connections after being haltered for $40,000 out of a runner-up effort in October at Parx, and stalked the pace under returning rider Luis Ocasio en route to the 3 3/4-length victory in a final time of 1:47.94.

Haunting Echoes looks to graduate in style off a third in a six-furlong maiden on January 14 at Parx where she raced with blinkers for the first time. The Echo Town bay has finished third in each of her three starts, her closest effort coming in her October debut when beaten 4 1/4 lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint. She is out of the stakes-placed Street Cry mare Silent Street, and her second dam is dual Grade 1-winner Listening.

Completing the field is David Heaton’s Midnite Ginny [post 2, Jose Lezcano], who looks to rebound from a distant fourth to Dazzling Dame in the Busanda in her first start off a four-month respite for trainer Jose Sanchez. The daughter of Cloud Computing was a two-length winner of a 5 1/2-furlong maiden tilt on debut in September at Monmouth Park.

The Ruthless is slated as Race 4 on Saturday’s 10-race card, which is headlined by the Listed $200,000 Withers, a 20-10-6-4-2 qualifier for the Kentucky Derby, in Race 9. The card also offers the Listed $150,000 Toboggan in Race 2 and the rescheduled $135,000 Ladies in Race 6. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

The $135,000 Ladies, originally scheduled for Saturday, January 17, was twice rescheduled due to inclement weather and was redrawn to be run as Race 6 on Saturday’s card at the Big A. The defections from the original field were Sultry Lass and Quietside, the latter of which was being considered for the Grade 3 Bayakoa on February 1 at Oaklawn Park as of Thursday.

Additions to the field include three-time stakes-winner Bernietakescharge, the last-out winner of the state-bred Bay Ridge on December 28 here for trainer Domenick Schettino; and the stakes-placed Linda Rice-trained Tipple, who arrives from a local fourth in the Listed Turnback the Alarm on November 2.

Leading the field of eight in the nine-furlong route for older fillies and mares is Klaravich Stables’ Weigh the Risks [post 5, Manny Franco], who enters off three straight victories, including two local Listed stakes. Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the 5-year-old Mendelssohn chestnut took the Pumpkin Pie by 1 1/4 lengths on November 8 and was last seen wiring the local Go for Wand by 9 3/4 lengths over the reopposing Scalable on December 13.

The complete field, in post position order, is Bernietakescharge [post 1, Ruben Silvera], Low Country Magic [post 2, Jaime Rodriguez], Ourdaydreaminggirl [post 3, Angel Rodriguez], Scalable [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche], Weigh the Risks [post 5, Manny Franco], Just Katherine [post 6, Sahin Civaci], Curlin’s Girl [post 7, Flavien Prat] and Tipple [post 8, Jose Lezcano].

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