Solomini points to Wood Memorial for final Derby prep

Splitting up his 2018 Kentucky Derby hopefuls for their final preps, trainer Bob Baffert will use a road less traveled for Solomini.

The Curlin colt, who ran second in his 3-year-old debut, Saturday’s Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, will take a try at Aqueduct’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial next out on April 7. Racing manager Justin Zayat announced the move on his Twitter account.

Said to be a bit immature in his morning training, Solomini always seems to show up in the afternoon.

“We had a good trip,” jockey Flavien Prat said after the Rebel effort, 3 1/2 lengths back of Magnum Moon at the wire. “We got on the inside and that’s not the best for him, but then I wasn’t going to keep him off. And he made a nice run. I mean he ran a good second.”

Baffert has twice before won the Wood Memorial, in 2001 with Congaree and 2006 with Bob and John. Lately, he has prepped more of his major contenders at Oaklawn Park, where unbeaten Justify will run in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. McKinzie, Baffert’s other top Derby hopeful, is ticketed for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, also on April 7.

Solomini's owner, Zayat Stables, scored in the 2010 Wood with Eskendereya.