Enticed 'in good shape' after Wood Memorial, on to Kentucky Derby

Godolphin Racing's Enticed emerged from his runner-up finish in Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct no worse for wear and will continue to target the 2018 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin Sunday morning.

Enticed, by Medaglia d'Oro and out of multiple Grade 1 winner It's Tricky, raced in second early behind rank pacesetter Old Time Revival and battled for the lead in the final quarter-mile with Vino Rosso, who ultimately prevailed by three lengths. Vino Rosso, ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, bumped solidly with Enticed in the stretch, prompting a stewards' inquiry and a jockey's objection lodged by Enticed's rider, Junior Alvarado. After a lengthy review, the results were allowed to stand.

"We ran very well. The horse that was on the lead was difficult and we were a little closer than I thought we'd be," said McLaughlin. "He broke well and laid second. We ran very well, and obviously Johnny came over and definitely bumped us pretty hard twice down the lane, but the stewards didn't think it was enough to change the result, so we had to finish second and we'll move on to Kentucky. We have our points and he came out of it in good shape."

Enticed, winner of the Grade 3 Gotham in March at the Big A and the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club last November at Churchill, currently sits sixth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 103 points.

McLaughlin said Enticed is scheduled to ship on Tuesday to Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach, Florida, where he will complete most of his Kentucky Derby preparations.

"Mainly because of the weather, and it's very quiet there in the month of April because of all the horses that have shipped out, so it's almost like a private training center," he said. "We'll train there and point for the Derby. We're doubtful that we'll even work him at Churchill, because he won there last fall and we already know that he likes the track."