Following a triumphant stakes debut in Saturday's Withers (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, Gary and Mary West's Hit Show will remain in New York at trainer Brad Cox's Belmont Park division to train for his next start.
Hit Show, a gray son of Candy Ride, earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for his 5 1/2-length conquest of the nine-furlong test under jockey Manny Franco, earning 20 points towards the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6 at Churchill Downs. He entered the Withers from a sharp victory against winners on December 17 going a two-turn mile at Oaklawn Park. Initially entered in the Grade 3 Southwest on January 28 at the Arkansas oval, Cox called an audible with Hit Show and sent him to New York for the Withers.
“He looked good this morning. He cooled out well yesterday and came back in good shape,” said Cox's Belmont-based assistant Dustin Dugas. “He was at the front of the stall, and bright eyed this morning. We're happy with him and he was happy with himself.”
While all options are currently on the table for Hit Show, Cox said he would strongly consider the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on April 8 – the final local Kentucky Derby qualifier, which offers 100-40-30-20-10 points to the top-five finishers.
“He's always been a horse that we thought would be better with more ground based off pedigree, how he runs, and what he's shown us in his races,” Cox said. “I think we obviously look at the Kentucky Derby and one race between now and then. What race that is, I don't know yet. It very well could be the Wood Memorial. He obviously likes the racetrack there and we'll see how things go.”
A second generation Kentucky homebred, Hit Show is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Tapit mare Actress, who, in 2017, posted nine-furlong graded stakes wins in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Course and the Grade 3 Comely at the Big A.
Hit Show is one of 38 Triple Crown-nominated horses under Cox's care.
The post ‘I Think We Obviously Look At The Kentucky Derby’: Hit Show Could Target Wood Memorial On Road To Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
