Monday Morning Qb may seek Withers score

Monday Morning Qb. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Cash is King and LC Racing’s Monday Morning Qb took a step up in class last out when notching a first stakes victory in the Heft at Laurel Park, just one month following a second-out maiden score.

Trainer Robert “Butch” Reid said the dark bay colt could target a start on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers (10-4-2-1) on February 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds over the main track is the third of five local preps for the ‘Run for the Roses’.

The Maryland-bred son of 2019 freshman sire Imagining won the seven-furlong Heft on December 28 at Laurel Park defeating Grade 1 winner Nucky, garnering an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. He graduated with an 85 Beyer at second asking over the main track at Parx.

Reid enjoyed success on last year’s Derby trail with Grade 2 Remsen winner Maximus Mischief, who was retired to stud following a soft-tissue injury.

“He was kind of tired, it was a big step up for him [in the Heft],” said Reid, who trained 2010 Withers winner Afleet Again. “But after a few days he was back to his old self. He’s been training lights out.”

Monday Morning Qb appeared a bit green in the stretch run of his stakes score, but Reid said the horse should improve with time and that stretching out in distance shouldn’t be a problem.

“He got confused and didn’t switch leads on the turn. As he matures, he’ll get better and more professional and that’s what we’ve been focusing on in the mornings with him,” Reid said.

Bred by Bowman & Higgins Stable & Cary Frommer, Monday Morning Qb is out of the Not For Love broodmare How My Heart Works and was acquired for $25,000 from the Fasig-Tipton Mid Atlantic October Yearling Sale in 2018.

TRIPLE CROWN TRAIL