Aqueduct will shift into high gear on Saturday, January 31, as NYRA stages a relentless ten-race program that stretches from 12:10 pm through to 8:40 pm and delivers one of the most demanding winter cards of the season. Built around multiple high-stakes contests and anchored by the $200,000 Withers Stakes, the afternoon will blend depth, stamina, and rising class, turning a midwinter fixture into a day of real consequence for several divisions.
The action will ignite early with Race 1 at 12:10pm, a Maiden Special Weight over 6½ furlongs for New York State-bred three-year-old fillies. Eight runners will chase a $75,000 purse, setting the tone with raw, untested talent eager to announce itself.
Momentum will escalate quickly in Race 2 at 12:39pm with the Toboggan Stakes, a sharp seven-furlong test for four-year-olds and upward. With $150,000 on the line and six runners engaged, the stakes sprint is expected to bring early intensity and proven speed into focus.
Race 3 at 1:08pm keeps the tempo high with a six-furlong claiming contest for older horses, drawing a full field of ten and offering $35,000.
The spotlight then returns to stakes company in Race 4 at 1:38pm with the Ruthless Stakes. Run over seven furlongs for three-year-old fillies, the $135,000 contest features seven runners and carries early-season significance for a division beginning to take shape.
The middle section of the card leans into stamina and strategy. Race 5 at 2:08pm presents a Starter Allowance over 1⅛ miles for older horses, with ten runners contesting a $60,000 purse. That foundation sets up the Ladies Stakes in Race 6 at 2:38pm, a $135,000 feature for fillies and mares aged four and up. Spanning 1⅛ miles and drawing eight runners, it stands as one of the day’s most competitive tests of class and endurance.
Late-afternoon racing will sustain the pressure. Race 7 at 3:08pm offers a seven-furlong allowance for older horses, with 11 runners vying for $83,000, while Race 8 at 3:38pm raises the tactical stakes with an Allowance Optional Claiming over 1â…› miles. Twelve runners will line up for $83,000, promising pace complexity and late-race drama.
The program will crest with the Withers Stakes in Race 9 at 4:08pm. Contested over 1⅛ miles for three-year-olds, the $200,000 feature brings together eight runners in a race that traditionally signals the emergence of serious contenders. Positioned late on the card, it will command full attention as the day’s defining moment.
Contenders: Schoolyardsuperman, Fourth and One, Project Ace, Talk to Me Jimmy, Mailata, Ottinho, Grittiness, Star Sweeper
The marathon will conclude with Race 10 at 4:38pm, a one-mile claiming event for older horses. With 12 runners and a $28,000 purse, it will close the card at full speed after a day that demands depth, durability, and class.
With ten races, multiple stakes, and sustained pressure from start to finish, Aqueduct Racecards 31 January are set to deliver a winter Saturday of uncommon intensity, reaffirming its place as a proving ground for both established runners and the season’s next wave of contenders.
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