By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $250,000 Withers, Aqueduct

Race 7, 3:46 p.m. EST - The Withers is the fourth of six stops on the New York road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby with qualifying points [20-10-6-4-2] that are available to the eligible finishers. Only two horses entered in the seven-horse field have already earned some Derby points. A moderate pace is expected in this 1 1/8 mile race which is carded as race 7 out of 9. (7) Omaha Omaha picked up five Derby points when he finished second in the Jerome last month with a late rally. The Virginia-bred has already shown that he can handle racing around two-turns with wins at Delaware Park and Laurel Park. The nine furlong distance at Aqueduct presents a big challenge and Omaha Omaha should be making the last run that could be the best run. (6) Captain Cook won at Aqueduct by more than nine lengths after changing to the barn of Rick Dutrow, pressing the pace, and drawing off. (5) Mo Quality moved onto the Derby trail at Oaklawn and finished second in the Smarty Jones when he pressed the pace. That also gave him five qualifying points. (1) Global Steve is undefeated in two starts for trainer Butch Reid at Parx. In November he broke his maiden by more than six lengths going seven furlongs and then stepped up to win the Future Stars on a sloppy track. Reid is a two-time winner of the Withers including last year with Uncle Heavy.

Betting strategy: Exacta key box: 7 with 1, 4, 5, 6. Pick 3:  1, 2, 4, 6 with 7 with 1, 2, 4, 5.