Study Guide: 2024 Wood Memorial
Apr 04, 2024
Uncle Heavy (left) gets up to deny El Grande O at the wire in the Withers (Photo by Joe Labozzetta/Coglianese Photos)
A total of 200 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points (split 100-50-25-15-10 among the top five finishers) are on the table in Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
The top two finishers are virtually guaranteed spots in the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate, and with so much on the line, 13 horses have entered the Wood Memorial. Let's meet the field:
Resilience
Resilience (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman
Breeder: Pam and Martin Wygod
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: John Velazquez
Top Speed Rating: (93) when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $94,630
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Meadowsweet
Color: Bay
Resilience ran well against a strong field in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, finishing fourth behind Remsen (G2) runner-up Sierra Leone, Lecomte (G3) winner Track Phantom, and future Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Catching Freedom. The competition looks easier in the Wood Memorial, and Resilience is a viable win threat under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.
El Grande O
El Grande O wins The Sleepy Hollow (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Walter Wlodarczyk)
Start(s): 11
Wins: 3
Place: 5
Show: 2
Owner: Barry K. Schwartz
Breeder: Stonewall Farm
Trainer: Linda Rice
Jockey: Dylan Davis
Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Bertram F. Bongard S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $435,000
Sire: Take Charge Indy
Dam: Rainbow's Song
Color: Dark bay/brown
You can make a case 1 1/8 miles is farther than El Grande O wants to run, but after finishing second in the Jerome and Withers (G3) and third in the Gotham (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Aqueduct, this speedy veteran of 11 starts can't be counted out of the mix for a top-five finish.
Lonesome Boy
Lonesome Boy at Parx Racing (Photo by Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO)
Start(s): 10
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 2
Owner: John E. Parker
Breeder: Pat Chinn and Mullan Chinn
Trainer: Hugo Padilla
Jockey: Adam Bowman
Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the City of Brotherly Love S. at Parx Racing.
Total Earnings: $126,444
Sire: Nationhood
Dam: Atta Girl Pearl
Color: Bay
Lonesome Boy has won three of his last four starts, including the City of Brotherly Love S. at Parx Racing. He dominated that contest by 6 3/4 lengths with a respectable 94 Brisnet Speed rating, so a competitive showing while stepping up in class for the Wood Memorial isn't out of the question.
Deterministic
Deterministic wins at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable
Breeder: Hinkle Farms
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $222,750
Sire: Liam's Map
Dam: Giulio's Jewel
Color: Dark bay/brown
Deterministic is 2-for-2 and recently returned from a long layoff to win the one-mile Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct by two lengths. Stretching out over 1 1/8 miles is a possible question mark since his pedigree is geared toward sprints and miles, but the 99 Brisnet Speed rating he posted in the Gotham tops the Wood Memorial field. Even if the distance isn't ideal, talent may carry Deterministic to the winner's circle.
Protective
Start(s): 2
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: Alpha Delta Stables
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche
Top Speed Rating: (81) when finishing second in a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $22,920
Sire: Medaglia d'Oro
Dam: Grace Hall
Color: Dark bay/brown
Protective is a beautifully bred colt conditioned by seven-time Wood Memorial-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, but he's been beaten in both of his starts to date while earning modest 81 Brisnet Speed ratings. The Wood Memorial looks like a tough assignment.
Evening News
Evening News wins at Turfway (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Travin Stables
Breeder: Charles H. Deters
Trainer: Michael Pino
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing second in a Turfway Park allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $84,600
Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Prieta
Color: Dark bay/brown
Evening News was tons the best in a one-mile allowance over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park last month, leading all the way to win by 8 1/4 lengths. But he finished sixth in his lone start on dirt, so returning to dirt for the Wood Memorial is at least a small question mark.
Merit
Merit (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning his debut at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $47,980
Sire: Mastery
Dam: Faithful
Color: Dark bay/brown
Merit smashed his debut sprinting at Gulfstream by 10 1/4 lengths, then recorded top-three finishes in $75,000 allowance optional claimers racing one mile and 1 1/8 miles over the same track. It's possible longer distances stretch the limits of Merit's stamina, so stepping up against Grade 2 competition in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial could be tricky.
Elysian Meadows
Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Team Penney Racing
Breeder: Moni Market Breeders and M & M Equine
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Top Speed Rating: (85) when finishing fourth in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $89,750
Sire: City of Light
Dam: Heavenly Thought
Color: Bay
After opening his career with a pair of sprint victories against New York-breds at Aqueduct, Elysian Meadows shipped to Florida for the winter and finished fourth in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. He still has upside while making only his second start of the season for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, and Florida shippers tend to perform well in the Wood Memorial.
Tuscan Sky
Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Breeder: Sierra Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Manny Franco
Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning a Fair Grounds allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $83,000
Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: South Andros
Color: Gray/roan
The possible favorite to win the Wood Memorial is Tuscan Sky, a Todd Pletcher trainee undefeated in two starts. He earned back-to-back 97 Brisnet Speed ratings when taking a six-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct and a 1 1/16-mile $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds by clear margins. At Fair Grounds, he defeated next-out Hot Springs S. winner Nash by two lengths, suggesting Tuscan Sky is good enough to handle stepping up in class for the Wood Memorial.
Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg Address (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Gervais Racing
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel
Top Speed Rating: (85) when finishing fourth in the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $80,796
Sire: Constitution
Dam: Jojo Warrior
Color: Bay
Gettysburg Address won his debut at Ellis Park last summer, but has suffered four straight defeats since then, including when fourth in the Street Sense (G3) and Smarty Jones S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He'll need a bit better to challenge in the Wood Memorial.
Society Man
Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: West Paces Racing, Danny Gargan, and GMP Stables
Breeder: SF Bloodstock
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Luis Rivera Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (85) when breaking his maiden at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $56,705
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: You Cheated
Color: Chestnut
Society Man faltered in his first Road to the Kentucky Derby foray, finishing eighth in the Withers at Aqueduct. But he bounced back to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct with a big stretch rally, so he's eligible to fare better in the Wood Memorial.
Deposition
Deposition wins at Parx (Photo by Equiphoto)
Start(s): 8
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Uriah St. Lewis
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Uriah St. Lewis
Jockey: Dexter Haddock
Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing fourth in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $62,275
Sire: Constitution
Dam: Mandrell
Color: Dark bay/brown
Deposition earned Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points when finishing fourth in the Withers, but he didn't perform quite as well when facing tougher foes in the Gotham, settling for sixth. He'll need a step forward to challenge against an even fiercer field in the Wood Memorial.
Uncle Heavy
Uncle Heavy wins the Withers S. (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Suisie Raisher)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Michael Milam and LC Racing
Breeder: Barbara Reid
Trainer: Robert Reid Jr.
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez
Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $293,580
Sire: Social Inclusion
Dam: Expect Wonderful
Color: Bay
Two-time stakes winner Uncle Heavy unleashed a big homestretch rally to defeat El Grande O by a nose in the Withers (G3). That game performance earned a 94 Brisnet Speed rating, fast enough to suggest Uncle Heavy is a threat to win again in the Wood Memorial.
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