—Apr 7— Vino Rosso, a chestnut colt by Curlin, is expected to be made the narrow favorite in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Grade I Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct. After finishing third in his debut in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa, Vino Rosso was shipped to New York, where he finished second to Avery Island (since sidelined) in the Gotham Stakes. With just $80,000 in earnings and 22 Kentucky Derby points, perhaps Vino Rosso’s biggest selling point is his trainer, Todd Pletcher, who has won the Wood Memorial four times. 

“He’s a horse that’s trained very well all winter and in company with some very good horses that have gone on to be successful,” said Pletcher. “So, we’ve been a little frustrated with his races this year.” 

“We’ve been looking forward to the Wood for a while,” he added. “We’re excited to get him back to Aqueduct. It’s where he broke his maiden and stretching out to a mile and an eighth is going to allow him to show his true ability.”

The likely second-choice in the betting, Firenze Fire, began the year with back-to-back second-place finishes in the Jerome Stakes and Withers Stakes at Aqueduct before falling apart in the Gotham, where he finished last, beaten fourteen lengths. He leads the field with $88,000 in earnings and has just 8 Kentucky Derby points. The Wood Memorial will be the fourth local Derby prep for the Mr. Amore Stables homebred.

With 12 qualifying points, Enticed, by Medaglia d’Oro and out of multiple Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky, is another who will need to run well in the Wood to have any hope of qualifying for the Derby. Third in both the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream and the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee has proven competitive with the likes of these but will need to take a step up to have any chance of reaching the Winner’s Circle. McLaughlin believes he’s up to the task.

“He’s doing very well,” said McLaughlin. “He’s training great. We’re happy with him and we’re there trying to win an important race. Even if it doesn’t have Grade 1 status, we feel like it is a Grade 1. It’s a huge race for a horse in his career, especially for a stallion prospect. Only one horse wins the Derby, so this is a very important race on Saturday.”

Gary and Mary West’s homebred, Restoring Hope, will ship east from Hall of Famer Bob Baffert’s training base in Southern California to compete in the Wood. Fifth to Bolt d’Oro in the ungraded California Derby at Golden Gate Fields in February, Restoring Hope improved to be third in the Grade II San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. With 0 qualifying points, his appearance here appears to be a Hail Mary by his connections.

Rounding out the field are King Zachary, whose best finish to date occurred in his last start in the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel when he finished second by a head to Diamond King. He has earned just $42,970 in four starts this year.

Way Early was last in the Gotham Stakes at 38/1 and isn’t likely to be competitive here.

—Apr 7— National Flag, who finished third in the Grade III Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park two weeks ago, and Engage, fourth to Gronkowski in the Jerome Stakes in mid-January, head a competitive field of six three-year-olds set to battle in the Bay Shore Stakes at 7 furlongs at Aqueduct on Saturday.

National Flag is trained by Todd Pletcher and was well-regarded in the Hutcheson, going postward as the 6/5 second favorite to the eventual winner, World of Trouble.

Engage is trained by Steve Asmussen, and was a $550,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in March, 2017. Though fourth, Engage ran against top competition in the Jerome.

Bal Harbour, the only previous winner in the field, was fifth in his last start in the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel. His 1¼ length score in the Withers was preceded by another fifth place finish in the Much Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January. The Bay Shore will mark his first try sprinting.

Marconi was third in the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in his last start. Like Bal Harbour, the Bay Shore will mark his first attempt in a sprint race.

Finally, Identity Politics and Carrick will be making their 2018 debuts in the Bay Shore. Given the overall quality of the field, both are expected to be competitive.

 

—Mar 31— Little known trainer, Jonathan Thomas, who two years ago saddled just 18 starters, took on the “big boys” in the training game and emerged victorious when his charge, Catholic Boy, drew off to an easy two-and-a-quarter length win in the 67th running of the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Entering the race after two so-so races at Tampa Bay Downs, Catholic Boy was forwardly placed from the outset. Challenged early by the 3/5 race favorite, Audible, then later by the late-running Hofburg, Catholic Boy dug in gamely, out-finishing both.

Hofburg entered the race after two desultory efforts in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes and the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park and a fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa. Sent to post at 9/1 odds, he was nonetheless the third choice in the race. Assuming he draws in, trainer Bill Mott indicated that Hofburg’s next start will be in the Kentucky Derby.

Despite losing by just a head for second, the biggest disappointment in the race was Todd Pletcher’s talented colt, Audible, whose lack of a closing kick raises some concerns. Audible was simply devastating in his prep for the race in the Holy Bull. He won that race by four-and-a-half lengths and looked to many like the Kentucky Derby favorite. No stranger to the Derby trail, Pletcher will no doubt attempt to get his horse back on track, though he is unlikely to race again before the Derby.

Promises Fulfilled finished fourth, two-and-a-half lengths behind Audible. Mississippi and Strike Power were fifth and last, respectively.

Catholic Boy, the 3/2 second choice, paid $5.10 to win.