It looked like a competitive field on paper, but Talk to Me Jimmy (Modernist) took the race to them right from the bell, and ran his rivals off their feet to secure 20 Kentucky Derby points in the Wither Stakes.
Last seen breaking his maiden in a similar fashion Nov. 9 going gate-to-wire against state-bred maidens at this venue, he was unveiled Sept. 26 and ran an even third during the Belmont Big A meet.
Out to set the pace after early contact from competition coming off the blocks, the New York-bred rolled up front through an opening quarter in :23.96 and four panels in :48.18. Given a bit of loose rein midway on the turn, he suddenly opened up on the field after six furlongs in 1:12.47 and asked them if they planned to catch him as they swung into the upper stretch. Enjoying a clear advantage while his rivals tried to bridge the gap, it was Schoolyardsuperman (Practical Joke) who first tried to respond, but could not cut into the margin. Talk to Me Jimmy hit the line with 11 lengths to spare as Grittiness (Curlin) closed for second and Ottinho (Quality Road) claimed third.
Talk to Me Jimmy becomes his sire (by Uncle Mo)'s first black-type winner with this victory.
“We always thought he wants to go long,” said trainer Rudy Rodriguez. “He's a nice, solid little horse. We picked up [Talk to Me Jimmy] at Keeneland; him and Exhibition Only [winner of Race 3 on Thursday at Aqueduct] and a couple other ones, and we've been very lucky.”
“He had a little setback in the beginning, but they [co-owners SEI Thoroughbreds] have been very, very patient. I'm just happy they stayed with us through this part because everything was in the air. Thank God everything worked out for a reason.”
When asked about a potential start in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes Apr. 4, a 100-point qualifier for the GI Kentucky Derby, Rodriguez said, “Probably, we'll point to that. This was a big test for him and we'll just skip the other one [the GIII Gotham Stakes] and point for the Wood.”
“We had two good days in a row with Exhibition Only winning yesterday, so we're excited,” said SEI Thoroughbreds's Dustin Pusatere. “We're new to this, so we'll let it come to us and do our best. There's a lot of heavy-hitters, and we're one of many trying [to get to the Derby]. It's not bad beating Gun Runner's half-brother [No. 3, Ottinho].”
The victor is the most recent offspring for Prairie Trip, a 10-time winning racemare who hit the board 31 times in her 54-race career. He is her first black-type runner, and the mare enjoys a 100% strike rate among her surviving foals for getting their pictures taken. One of Prairie Trip's half-sisters is the dam of GSW Marckie's Water (Tribal Rule). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
What a performance! #6 TALK TO ME JIMMY ($26.54) ran away from the field to easily win the $200,000 Withers Stakes and pick up 20 points towards the @KentuckyDerby. The son of Modernist was ridden by @Ruben_Silvera and is trained by @RudyRodriguezNY. pic.twitter.com/sw8SXxd7Qa
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 6, 2026
WITHERS S., $200,000, Aqueduct, 2-6, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:51.68, ft.
1–TALK TO ME JIMMY, 123, c, 3, by Modernist
1st Dam: Prairie Trip, by Trippi
2nd Dam: Prairie View, by Honor Grades
3rd Dam: Steady Gaze, by Storm Bird
($24,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTNMIX; $31,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-SEI Thoroughbreds and Rodriguez, Rudy R.; B-Majestic View Farms Intl. (NY); T-Rudy R. Rodriguez; J-Ruben Silvera. $110,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $163,600.
2–Grittiness, 123, c, 3, Curlin–Coach Rocks, by Oxbow. ($575,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Repole Stable; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $40,000.
3–Ottinho, 123, c, 3, Quality Road–Quiet Giant, by Giant's Causeway. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba); B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $24,000.
Margins: 11, HF, 1. Odds: 12.27, 5.22, 2.31.
Also Ran: Schoolyardsuperman, Star Sweeper, Fourth and One, Mailata.
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