Withers return for Avery Island back at Aqueduct

Avery Island makes a third straight appearance on dirt at Aqueduct, USA, on his three-year-old return in the nine-furlong G3 Withers Stakes on Saturday, 3 February. 

The promising Street Sense colt, who is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, stormed to a decisive victory in the mile G2 Nashua Stakes at the New York course on 5 November and stayed on to take a clear second behind Catholic Boy in the G2 Remsen Stakes over Saturday’s distance on 2 December. 

He made all for an impressive maiden success over an extended mile at Belmont in September, having started out with seventh in a Saratoga maiden over six furlongs in August. 

Avery Island, with regular jockey Joe Bravo in the saddle and drawn in stall four, takes on five rivals including G1 Champagne Stakes winner Firenze Fire, non-graded Mucho Macho Man Stakes runner-up Bal Harbour and Aqueduct maiden scorer Marconi.  

Kiaran McLaughlin commented: “We feel that Avery Island is improving all the time and he likes the track at Aqueduct, having been first and second in G2 races. 

“The Remsen Stakes was a good education for him – we took dirt and settled a little bit – and it was a nice run to finish second to Catholic Boy, who ran a huge race.

“Avery Island was giving weight away that day and we have a penalty again this time, but it is what it is, and we know that he wants this distance. 

“We wouldn’t trade places with anybody.”