The Grade II, $750,000 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino is the richest of 12 added-money events scheduled worth a combined $2.675 million for the Aqueduct spring meeting, to be held Apr. 4 through Apr. 28.
NYRA has increased the purse of six stakes to be contested during the Aqueduct spring meet. Four listed events have received a $50,000 boost, including the Top Flight S., Danger's Hour S., Plenty of Grace S. and Memories of Silver S. The GIII Distaff H. and the Woodhaven S. have each been increased by $25,000, raising the purse of the Distaff to $175,000 and the Woodhaven to $125,000.
Stakes action kicks off Saturday, Apr. 6, with the running of the Wood, a nine-furlong contest that serves as the final local prep for the GI Kentucky Derby four weeks later. As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Wood offers 200 qualifying points on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10. The fillies' counterpart, the $200,000 GII Gazelle S., also takes place Apr. 6, with 200 Kentucky Oaks points up for grabs on the same scale. Wood Memorial day will also feature the $250,000 GII Carter H., the Distaff H. and the $175,000 Listed Bay Shore S.
The Listed Top Flight S. is scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 13, while New York-bred 3-year-old males and fillies take center stage the following afternoon in the Times Square S. and Park Avenue S., both part of the New York Stallion Stakes Series.
Turf stakes return the weekend of Apr. 20 and 21, with the running of the Danger's Hour and the Plenty of Grace. Sophomore turf males and fillies go postward in the Woodhaven on Apr. 27 and Memories of Silver Apr. 28, respectively.
Click here for the schedule.
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