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With its position on the New York racing calendar moved up this year from late April, the historic Withers Stakes is once again a key prep race for horses with Kentucky Derby aspirations.

The 2012 Withers will be contested on Feb. 4 at Aqueduct and a large field is expected for the 1 1/16-mile contest worth $200,000. The New York Racing Association listed nine three-year-olds as probable for the Withers. That group is led by Alpha, who stepped to the forefront of New York-based Kentucky Derby contenders with a win in the Count Fleet Stakes on Jan. 7.

The Grade 3 Withers Stakes dates back to 1874 when it was inaugurated at the now-defunct Jerome Park Race Course. The race has since changed sites and distances many times in the intervening years. After Jerome Park, the race was moved Morris Park Racecourse, Jamaica Racetrack and Belmont Park before settling on its current location at Aqueduct.

The Withers Stakes was named in honor of owner-breeder David Dunham Withers, who according to Wikipedia won this race in 1890 and died two years later.

Look at the list of former winners of the Withers and you'll see some of the biggest names in Thoroughbred Racing history. Sir Barton (1919), Man o' War (1920), Count Fleet (1943), Hill Prince (1950), Native Dancer (1953), Dr. Fager (1967), Ack Ack (1969), Gone West (1987), Housebuster (1990), Bernardini (2006);the list goes on and on.

The Withers, which was not run in 2011, lost some of its prominence in recent years because it was run just one week prior to the Kentucky Derby. The race was used more as a prep for the Preakness Stakes, which is held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. In fact, Bernardini followed his win in the 2006 Withers with a win in the Preakness.

The Withers is now back in a role of prominence, especially given the increase in its purse because of the infusion of money from the recently-opened casino at Aqueduct.

In addition to Alpha, the 2012 Withers Stakes may also feature a California invader for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Longview Drive, who has finished third in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita and Grade 3 Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs in his last three starts, is listed as probable to make the cross-country trip for the Withers.

The legendary Eddie Arcaro has the most Withers' wins among jockeys with six, which came between 1940 and 1955. “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons won six Withers Stakes from 1908 to 1961 to lead all trainers.