Ky. Derby prep: Why McGaughey thinks Statesman can step up

Statesman, winner of his last two races, steps up in class for Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial, a nine-furlong test for sophomores, at Aqueduct.

The Wood Memorial, which offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers, is slated as race 12 on Saturday’s 13-race card. First post is 12:10 p.m. EDT.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, Statesman enters from a pair of one-mile, 40-yard victories at Tampa Bay Downs, graduating fourth out Jan. 17 and defeating optional-claiming company last out Feb. 26. The Constitution bay traveled in fifth position early under Samuel Marin and closed to win both efforts.

“I thought the Wood would be a good place for him. I thought Aqueduct’s main track with the long stretch would help him because he is a finisher,” McGaughey said. “He’s been training really good since he ran last time and I know it is a big reach, but we are ready to see what happens.”

McGaughey believes Statesman can take a step forward off his last race, where he was bumped at the start but recovered nicely to get in position for his surge to a 1 1/4-length score.

“He got schooled pretty good in his last race and then he was able to finish up to win easy,” McGaughey said. “I think he is pretty experienced to that effect, and I think his jockey will sit and wait on him and he’ll finish.”

Marin, the leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs, is slated to ride from post 11 in the field of 12, tabbed at odds of 15-1 on David Aragona’s morning line.

“He rode him two times. That kid is not far from being a New York rider. He is a really good rider. He is way in front there and I’ve been really, really impressed with some of the rides he’s given us this winter. I think that maybe another summer at Monmouth Park and he’d be ready to come to New York,” McGaughey said.

Statesman was third in his off-the-turf, one-mile debut in early August at Saratoga before an off-the-board finish traveling two turns on turf later that month there. He was fourth in November at Gulfstream Park before his Tampa triumphs.

Statesman has not raced over an off track, but McGaughey didn’t express much concern over the rain in the forecast.

“I’ve got no idea how he would handle an off track, but I think he probably should. I think that would probably dictate maybe if there are more horses with speed going in the race. It might help him somewhat,” McGaughey said. “Like I said, he got schooled pretty good in his last race and I don’t know if the rain would bother him or not, but I don’t think it would.”

Statesman is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and CJ Stables and was bred by West Point Thoroughbreds and St. Elias Stables. Out of the Grade 1-winning Empire Maker mare Icon Project, he is a half-brother to graded-stakes winner Fashion Business. His second dam is Grade 1-victor La Gueriere.