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.

  • Ticket Info

    Sign up for race updates and more

FOLLOW FOR UPDATES AND EXCLUSIVES

Premium Concierge Experience

ENJOY EXCLUSIVE PERKS WITH OUR PREMIUM CONCIERGE SEATS AVAILABLE NOW!

For Premium tickets, give us a call at 5026364447