Wood draw: Risk Taking is favored; see posts and odds

Risk Taking, the winner of the Withers Stakes (G3) nearly two months ago, drew post 4 and was made the 5-2 morning line favorite for the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on Saturday at 5:58 p.m. EDT at Aqueduct.

The nine-horse race stands as a final points chance for Kentucky Derby hopefuls such as Candy Man Rocket (12-1), who finished 11th in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) in his most recent trip after winning the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Gulfstream in February.

[RELATED – Wood Memorial: 4 win contenders, 1 pick]

The Wood will mark the first stakes test for Prevalence (3-1), who put in a workmanlike effort to win in allowance company in his most recent trip for trainer Brendan Walsh. The colt was slated to run in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream on Feb. 27 but was scratched from that race due to a minor setback.

Jimmy Bell, U.S. president of Godolphin, said during a National Thoroughbred Racing Association media call Tuesday that he was excited to see how the homebred Medaglia d’Oro colt fares in the race.

“He got experience in both races and learned something in both races,” Bell said. “That’s what gives us a little more confidence about stepping into deeper water and graded stakes and stepping up in added distance.”

Bell said he had been impressed with Prevalence’s recent works. The colt went four furlongs in 47.6 seconds at Palm Meadows on Sunday, the fastest of 30 works at the distance.

“His energy level, that says it all right there,” Bell said. “From Brendan’s perspective, he’s lucky, it’s an easy horse to read, no worries about what he’s feeling.”

Prevalence drew post No. 6 and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

Gotham (G3) winner Weyburn (9-2) also looks to be a top contender in the race, scheduled for Saturday, which offers points payouts of 100-40-20-10 to the top four finishers.

Weyburn drew post No. 8 on Wednesday and will be piloted by Trevor McCarthy. Candy Man Rocket will start next to him in post No. 7 under Junior Alvarado.

Remsen (G2) winner Brooklyn Strong (6-1) will make his 3-year-old bow in the race for trainer Daniel Velazquez, who said on the media call that the time off was needed for the colt after his trip in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen on Dec. 5.

“We noticed he had some weight loss, and he didn’t look the same, act the same,” Velazquez said. “We just opted to give him the time after that, he just wasn’t the same horses. Moving forward now he’s hit every point I want him to hit.”

Velazquez said he was extremely confident about the Wicked Strong colt’s chances in the race. Brooklyn Strong was a $5,000 purchase at the 2020 Ocala Breeders’ Spring sale.

“One hundred percent confident in my horse, my team, the work is done,” Velazquez said. “The work is done. It’s a matter of him showing up and actually getting the job done.”

Manny Franco has the ride on Brooklyn Strong, who drew the rail position.

Following are the post positions with horses (trainers, jockeys) and morning-line odds:

1. Brooklyn Strong (Daniel Velázquez, Manny Franco), 6-1

2. Crowded Trade (Chad Brown, Eric Cancel), 4-1

3. Bourbonic (Todd Pletcher, Kendrick Carmouche), 30-1

4. Risk Taking (Chad Brown, Irad Ortiz Jr.), 5-2

5. Dynamic One (Todd Pletcher, José Ortiz), 12-1

6. Prevalence (Brendan Walsh, Tyler Gaffalione), 3-1

7. Candy Man Rocket (Bill Mott, Júnior Alvarado), 12-1

8. Weyburn (Jimmy Jerkens, Trevor McCarthy), 9-2

9. Market Maven (Penny Pearce, Dexter Haddock), 30-1