J Be K Heads Short Withers Field

J BE K (Silver Deputy), a smashing five-length winner of the Bay Shore S. (G3), will seek his second straight stakes tally when heads to the starting gate in Saturday's $150,000 Withers S. (G3) at Aqueduct. Only three opponents will attempt to derail his momentum, and the Steve Asmussen-trained sophomore colt will likely be a prohibitive choice in the one-mile, one-turn contest.

The Zayat Stables colorbearer established a new track record at Saratoga when taking his career bow by 7 1/2 lengths, but he wasn't seen again under silks until mid-February, returning to the races with a five-length victory over allowance rivals at Fair Grounds. His connections elected to try him at a route in the Louisiana Derby (G2) next out, but an eighth-place finish made it an easy decision to shift him back to shorter distances. Favored at 3-2 in the seven-furlong Bay Shore on April 5, J Be K chased the pace before drawing off in the stretch, and the dark bay colt won convincingly while being geared down under the wire by Garrett Gomez, who will return to the saddle on Saturday. J Be K will spot his rivals five-to-seven pounds under a 123-pound weight assignment..

"He came out of the Bay Shore in really good shape," assistant Toby Sheets said. "He's a classy horse and a pleasure to be around."

Todd Pletcher will send out a pair of uncoupled runners. Unbeaten HARLEM ROCKER (Macho Uno) will make his stakes debut off a pair of victories at Gulfstream Park, breaking his maiden by 1 3/4 lengths at seven furlongs before capturing a one-mile allowance test by three-quarters of a length. Eibar Coa will be back in the saddle. FACE THE CAT (Tale of the Cat), a sharp four-length allowance winner at Gulfstream two starts back, will cut back in distance after finishing eighth in the Florida Derby (G1) last time. John Velazquez will ride.

The Richard Dutrow-trained DOUBLE OR NOTHING (Double Honor), a half-length winner of the one-mile Private Terms S. at Laurel Park last out, rounds out the field.

Harlem Rocker will carry 116 pounds and break from the innermost post. Next in the gate comes J Be K; Double or Nothing, Edgar Prado, 118; and Face the Cat, 116.