The regally bred Courvoisier (Tapit) looks to extend his win streak and take his next step down the GI Kentucky Derby trail Saturday in Aqueduct's GII Withers S. Hitting the board in his first three attempts, the son of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) broke through at 14-1 odds when trying nine panels for the first time at the Big A Dec. 2. He followed suit with a win in this venue's Jerome S. on a sloppy track on New Year's Day.
“He's always been a big boy. He was a big boy at birth and he's filling in,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “He's a nice horse and I think that the longer the better for him. We have high hopes for him–let him show it on the track.”
Chad Brown sends out a debut winner with a strong chance in Early Voting (Gun Runner). He was an easy winner at short odds going a mile at this venue Dec. 18 under Jose Ortiz, who returns from Florida to retain the mount and chose this colt over his Jerome winner Courvoisier.
The New York winter population is represented by Ray Handal trainee Constitutionalawyer (Constitution). Rallying for fourth behind subsequent GII Remsen S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) on debut at Belmont Oct. 21, the bay checked in third to Courvoisier over track and trip Dec. 2 and wired the field next out in a muddy nine-panel event here Jan. 2.
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