Wood Memorial Field Taking Shape
Early Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo headlines the field of likely contenders for the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, April 9.
Owned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher, Uncle Mo had a sensational juvenile campaign, including a 14 ½-length score in his debut at Saratoga Race Course, followed by dominant victories in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs, earning him Eclipse Award honors as 2010’s Champion Two-Year-Old Male.
The Wood Memorial will be his second start of 2011, having easily won his sophomore debut in the Timely Writer at Gulfstream Park, and his final race before May 7’s Kentucky Derby.
According to NYRA Stakes Coordinator Andrew Byrnes, other horses that are probable for the Wood Memorial are Duca, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas for owner Robert C. Baker, Isn’t He Perfect, trained by Doodnauth Shivmangal for Kharag Stables, and Norman Asbjornson, trained by Christopher Grove for Thomas G. McClay.
Heading the list of possible Wood Memorial contenders are Grade 1 Norfolk winner Jaycito, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Zayat Stables, Grade 3 Gotham third-place finisher Toby’s Corner, trained by Graham Motion for Dianne D. Cotter, and Timely Writer runner-up Rattlesnake Bridge, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Mill House.
Other possibilities for the race are Arthur’s Tale, trained by Tom Albertrani for Darley Stables, Preachintothedevil, trained by Gary Contessa for Crossed Sabres Farm, and Starship Caesar, trained by Bisnath Parboo for Sherry Parbhoo.
The 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial has long been a springboard to Derby success. Beginning with Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox in 1930, 11 Wood winners have gone on to take the Run for the Roses, among them Triple Crown heroes Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946) and Seattle Slew (1977), as well as Twenty Grand (1931), Johnstown (1939), Hoop Jr. (1945), Foolish Pleasure (1975), Bold Forbes (1976), Pleasant Colony (1981) and Fusaichi Pegasus (2000). In addition, Secretariat finished third in the 1973 Wood before going on to sweep the Triple Crown, culminating with his incomparable 31-length victory in the Belmont.