Albus pulls off Wood Memorial upset to punch Derby ticket

New York

A late rally by Albus to win the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial gave trainer Riley Mott his second 3-year-old with enough qualifying points to earn a spot in Kentucky Derby 2026. Albus got the 100 points for winning at Aqueduct on Saturday to join his stablemate Incredibolt who has 60 points from victories in the Street Sense (G3) and the Virginia Derby.

The son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has been training on his own since 2022 and has 113 victories in his career with five graded stakes that includes his pair potential of Run for the Roses participants.

“Never would I have thought going into this year that would be happening,” Mott said. "We still have a long ways to go and I just hope both colts stay happy and healthy and that we can put them in the gate that day.”

A field of 12 went into the gate for the 101st running of the Wood Memorial which is the last time that it will be run at Aqueduct as racing next year will be at the newly renovated Belmont Park.

Albus was making the fourth start of his career with a pair of maidens in Kentucky as a 2-year-old. The son of Yaupon made his 2026 debut at Tampa Bay Down a maiden winner when he pressed the pace going two-turns and drew off to win by almost seven lengths. In the Wood he was sent off at 11-1 with Jaime Torres getting back on board.

The field of 12 had plenty of early speed with Napoleon Solo and Talk to Me Jimmy setting the early fractions for six furlongs in 22.92, 47.30 and 1:12.04. Albus was eighth in the early going getting as far back as 11 lengths behind the pace setters and was content to save ground racing near the rail.

“I was really happy down the backside with our position,” Mott added. "Jaime was comfortable, got into a nice rhythm. They went pretty quick the first quarter, but slowed it down a bit, 47 and change.”

Although the fractions seemed moderate on the deep Aqueduct track running out front began to take its toll and the pacesetters began to give way to the longshot late runners Right to Party and Ocelli who were led by Albus.

Albus moved off the rail to the middle of the track and closed quickly to get the lead at the stretch call and drew away convincingly to a final margin 1 ¼ - lengths. He finished the nine furlongs with a final time of 1:51.71. With the $400,000 winner’s share of the purse Albus now has $436,288 in earnings and a record of 5: 2-0-1.

“He’s laid close, he’s come from out of it today, taken kickback,” Mott explained. “It gives you a lot of confidence. He obviously handled the distance, and I think he can get more. Hopefully, there’s another race in a few weeks at a mile and a quarter [laughs]. He showed a lot of professionalism today.”

Right to Party was in the 11th position in the early going and he rallied to get second by a nose at 38-1 which completed a $2 exacta that paid $573.84. Right to Party now has 65 Derby points and trainer Ken McPeek reported that he would be a late nomination to the Triple Crown series.

At 28-1 Ocelli closed for third and got his first 25 qualifying points while completing a 50¢ trifecta of $2,309.55. Bravaro finished fourth and upped his points total to 35. The early leader Napoleon Solo was fifth and now has 25 Derby points.

Mott, who is 34, had been to the Kentucky Derby several times working as his father’s assistant trainer.

“This horse will go right to Churchill and is scheduled to leave on Monday,” Mott said. “It’s fun to take him there and be qualified for the Derby and not just be a bystander and watch. We’re thrilled and we’ll let the good times roll.”