Risk Taking, Prevalence top draws in nine-horse Wood Memorial

Mar 31, 2021 by James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Withers S. (G3) winner Risk
Taking and unbeaten Prevalence
head a nine-horse field in Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial S. (G2) at
Aqueduct, a major Kentucky Derby qualifier awarding points on a 100-40-20-10
scale to the top four finishers.

NYRA oddsmaker David Aragona has installed Risk Taking as
the slight 5-2 favorite on the morning line. The Medaglia d’Oro colt has won
two straight at the 1 1/8-mile distance for Chad Brown, including a rallying 3 3/4-length decision in the Feb. 6 Withers, and the improving three-year-old
will be reunited with leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr., who was up for his first
two starts.

Prevalence comes next at 3-1 on the morning line. A smashing 8 1/2-length debut
winner in late January, the Godoplphin homebred son of Medaglia d’Oro exits a
three-length decision over entry-level allowance foes at Gulfstream on March
11. Tyler Gaffalione retains the mount on the Brendan Walsh-trained colt, who
has received support in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools.

Weyburn and Crowded Trade, the respective top two
in the March 6 Gotham S. (G3) at Aqueduct, are back for the Wood Memorial.
Weyburn will stretch to two turns after returning from a three-length layoff to
post a 46-1 upset last time. Crowded Trade missed by only a nose while making only
his second career start for Brown in the Gotham. The promising colt also will
make his two-turn debut on Saturday.

Brooklyn Strong,
last seen winning the Remsen S. (G2) in early December, is also one to
consider. The New York-bred gelding has been training forwardly at Parx for
trainer Danny Vasquez in preparation for his return from a lengthy layoff. Sam
F. Davis S. (G3) winner Candy Man Rocket
will try to rebound after an unplaced effort as the favorite in the Tampa Bay
Derby (G2).

A trio of expected longshots – Bourbonic, Dynamic One,
and Market Maven – complete the
field.