After two easy works following the Gotham, Chiefswood Stables' son of Pioneerof the Nile covered the three furlongs in :36.20 – the second fastest of 18 recorded works at the distance. Weyburn worked six-furlongs 1:16.60 five days earlier.

“If I'm running a horse that's going further than they ever have, I like to give them a little something close to the race just to open up their lungs a bit,” Jerkens said. “It was pretty close to his work before that, but he didn't go all that fast that day, so I didn't think it was a big deal with the five days, plus we had a lot of rain the next day.”

In upsetting the Gotham at 46-1 odds, Weyburn displayed tactical speed and fought gamely along the rail to get a nose to the better of fellow Wood Memorial aspirant Crowded Trade. He also earned 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, currently standing 10th on the leaderboard.

Despite qualifying for the “Run for the Roses,” Jerkens said he might be more inclined to train Weyburn up to the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 5. His best finish in the 12-furlong “Test of a Champion” was Thomas Jo, who finished third behind a thrilling stretch run in 1998 where Victory Gallop infamously spoiled the Triple Crown bid of Real Quiet.

“We kind of have that in the back of our head that we'd more apt to aim for something like that than the Derby,” Jerkens said. “He's a horse that takes some time to get used to new places. He's high maintenance in that regard. We'd like to stretch the year out a little more.”

Jerkens seeks a second Wood Memorial triumph, having saddled Centennial Farms' Wicked Strong to victory in the 2014 edition.

Centennial Farms, graded stakes-winner Rocketry has been back to the work tab since getting some winter rest at the outfits Middleburg, Virginia facility. The veteran son of Hard Spun is possible for the $100,000 Flat Out on April 30 at Belmont Park.

After going three furlongs in 38.21 on March 21, he went an easy half-mile in 50.09 seconds.

“We'll try to make the Flat Out,” Jerkens said. “We were debating on whether to keep him here all winter because he always does well when he's with the rest of us. Sometimes when he gets turned out, he can get a little bored and then he comes back, and it takes a while to get into the rhythm of things.”

Rocketry, a three-time stakes winner, was last seen ending a nine-race slump when coming from ten lengths off the pace to win the 1 5/8-mile Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on November 6 at Keeneland.

The post Jerkens ‘More Apt’ To Aim Gotham Winner Weyburn At Belmont Than Kentucky Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Blue Grass Stakes, Wood Memorial, and Santa Anita Derby will be televised by NBC Sports as part of their “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series during a two-hour program airing on NBCSN and beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Prior to the NBCSN broadcast, national television coverage of the Wood Memorial Day card from Aqueduct can be found on America's Day at the Races on FS2 beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

TVG will be broadcasting every race, every day with expanded coverage of Keeneland's Spring Meet which begins on April 2nd and runs through April 23rd. In addition to racing from Keeneland, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, TVG will feature racing from Oaklawn Park, Aqueduct and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

Friday, April 2

4:34 p.m. —$150,000 Grade 3 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

Anderson Stables' Lady Kate looks to make the grade in Friday's Distaff, a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, the Grade 1-placed Lady Kate will make her seasonal debut following an off-the-board effort in the Breeders' Cup Distaff won by eventual Champion Older Dirt Female Monomoy Girl in November at Keeneland. The 5-year-old Bernardini mare, who finished second to Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 La Troienne in September at Churchill Downs, enjoyed a four-win campaign in 2020, including a score in the one-mile Groupie Doll in August at Ellis Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040221USA7-EQB.html

4:57 p.m. —$150,000 Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Erich Brehm's My Girl Red, stylish winner of last summer's Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar, headlines a field of seven 3-year-old fillies entered for the 36th running of the Beaumont, which offers 17 points toward the Kentucky Oaks on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the first- through fourth-place finishers. Trained by Keith Desormeaux, My Girl Red will be making her 2021 debut on Friday. James Graham will be aboard for the first time and break from post one.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040221USA8-EQB.html

5:30 p.m. —$150,000 Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Three Diamonds Farm's Fire At Will, winner of last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, will face five rivals in the 33rd running of the Transylvania Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Trained by Mike Maker, who saddled Field Pass to a victory in the 2020 Transylvania, Fire At Will returns to the turf after finishing eighth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on dirt in his most recent start.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040221USA9-EQB.html

Saturday, April 3

2:21 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

A compact but competitive field of 3-year-old dirt sprinters has assembled for the Bay Shore at seven furlongs led by Florida shipper Drain the Clock, who enters off a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. While the temptation for most connections would be to forge ahead on the Kentucky Derby trail after picking up 20 qualifying points in the Fountain of Youth, trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. and the ownership group have elected to focus on shorter races with their talented sophomore. Drain the Clock has four wins in dirt dashes, including a pair of open-length tallies at Gulfstream during their recent Championship Meet.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA4-EQB.html

3:25 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex will look to breakthrough at the highest level in Saturday's Carter Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses. Mischevious Alex, a 4-year-old Into Mischief colt trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., won the one-turn mile Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct and seven-furlong Grade 3 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park last year for former conditioner John Servis. The versatile dark bay is perfect in two starts since joining the Joseph, Jr. stable, including a prominent score in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint on February 13 last out traveling six furlongs on a fast track.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA6-EQB.html

3:51 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables' Plum Ali, last seen at Keeneland finishing fifth as the second choice in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, tops a field of six 3-year-old fillies entered for the 33rd running of the Appalachian Stakes going a mile on the turf. Trained by Christophe Clement, Plum Ali won her first three starts, including the Juvenile Fillies at Kentucky Downs and the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes Belmont, prior to the Breeders' Cup.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA6-EQB.html

4:24 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Something Special Racing's Grade 1 winner Hog Creek Hustle heads a field of seven 4-year-olds and up entered for the 34th running of the Commonwealth Stakes at seven furlongs on the main track. Trained by Vickie Foley, Hog Creek Hustle took the Grade 1 Woody Stephens in 2019 and has started in the past two runnings of the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Corey Lanerie has the mount and will break from post seven.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA7-EQB.html

4:31 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

Coming off a pair of stakes wins on the local strip, the venerable New York-bred Mr. Buff will look to finally break through in a graded stakes race on Saturday when he lines up against six rivals in the nine-furlong Excelsior for 4-year-olds and up. Mr. Buff, who has already secured millionaire status, has 17 wins to his credit, 11 of them in stakes races, but has been unable to seal the deal in a graded race in five attempts. Despite his graded woes, the 7-year-old son of Friend Or Foe has compiled an imposing resume. His ledger at Aqueduct features 10 wins and earnings in excess of $600,000.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA8-EQB.html

4:57 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Wesley Ward's Bound for Nowhere and Breeze Easy's Imprimis, respective winners of the 2018 and 2019 runnings of the Shakertown, headline a field of 13 3-year-olds and up entered for Saturday's 25th edition of the $200,000 race going 5½ furlongs on the grass. Also trained by Ward, Bound for Nowhere was caught late in the past two runnings of the Shakertown, finishing a neck behind Imprimis in 2019 when running second, and a neck behind Leinster and Totally Boss in last year's running that was his most recent start.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA8-EQB.html

5:09 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2 and TVG

Trainer Chad Brown will send out a pair of stakes winners who are looking to take the next step up against graded company, with the duo competing as part of an eight-horse field in Saturday's Gazelle, which offers 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the top-four finishers to the Kentucky Oaks. Brown enter the respective first and third-place finishers from the Busher Invitational on March 6, saddling Klaravich Stables' Search Results and Louis Lazzinnaro's The Grass Is Blue. Search Results, unraced as a juvenile, improved to 2-for-2 in her career with a half-length score over Miss Brazil in the Busher, contested over a one-turn mile on an Aqueduct fast track.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA9-EQB.html

5:14 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Sensational in her two previous stateside starts, Phil D'Amato's Going Global (IRE) heads a field of seven sophomore fillies going a 1 1/8-miles on turf in the Providencia Stakes. Ridden by Flavien Prat in both local starts, Going Global surged late in her U.S. debut, the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes on February 14. In her first try around two turns, Going Global was off as the even money favorite in the one mile turf China Doll Stakes March 6 and she did not disappoint as she unfurled an explosive stretch rally en route to a three quarter length score.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040321USA5-EQB.html

5:30 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Undefeated Malathaat and Simply Ravishing headline a field of six 3-year-old fillies for Saturday's 84th running of the Ashland Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Favored at 9-5 on the morning line is Malathaat, who is making her 2021 debut. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Malathaat closed her 2020 campaign with a victory in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct. Trained by two-time race winner Kenny McPeek, Simply Ravishing romped to a 6¼-length victory in last fall's Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes before finishing a troubled fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA9-EQB.html

5:48 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Separated by a head when last they met on March 7, Bob Baffert's Beautiful Gift and Michael McCarthy's Moraz will square off again as they head a field of five sophomore fillies in the Santa Anita Oaks, which offers 100 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the winner. Beautiful Gift broke her maiden two starts back on October 23 at a flat mile and then rallied to nail Moraz on the money in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel on March 7.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040321USA6-EQB.html

5:58 p.m.—$750,000 Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct on NBCSN

Unbeaten Prevalence and Grade 3 Withers-winner Risk Taking highlight a strong field for Saturday's 96th running of the Wood Memorial. Godolphin, whose royal blue colors saw the winner's circle in the 2015 Wood Memorial with Frosted, will seek their second Wood triumph with the highly regarded Prevalence. The Brendan Walsh-trained son of Medaglia d'Oro is 2-for-2 at Gulfstream Park to start and his career will see two turns for the first time.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU040321USA10-EQB.html

6:02 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland on TVG

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One, winner of the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff and third in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, headlines a field of seven fillies and mares entered for the Madison going seven furlongs on the main track. Trained by Neil Pessin, Bell's the One will be making her 2021 debut in the Madison. Winner of the 2019 Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland, Bell's the One will be ridden by Corey Lanerie and break from post position four.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA10-EQB.html

6:35 p.m.—$800,000 Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on NBCSN and TVG

Godolphin's undefeated homebred Essential Quality, the champion 2-year-old male of 2020, is the 3-5 morning line choice in a field of nine 3-year-olds entered for the 97th running of the Blue Grass Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality debuted September 5 at Churchill on Kentucky Derby Day and followed that triumph with victories in Keeneland's Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to sew up the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male. In his lone start of 2021, Essential Quality won the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park by 4¼ lengths on February 27.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/KEE040321USA11-EQB.html

6:54 p.m.—$600,000 Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on TVG

Pauline's Pearl and Sun Path ran 2-3, respectively, in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes on March 6 and the two meet again in the Fantasy Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Pauline's Pearl is out of Grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick and broke her maiden at third asking at Fair Grounds on February 12.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/OP040321USA11-EQB.html

7:15 p.m.—$750,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park on NBCSN and TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will send out likely favorite Medina Spirit in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby, a race that he's won a record nine times. Medina Spirit, who was second, beaten eight lengths by his recently sidelined stablemate Life Is Good in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, was a gate to wire winner of the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes two starts back on January 30. A first-out maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs at Los Alamitos December 11, Medina Spirit then flew to be second, beaten three quarters of a length by Life Is Good going a flat mile in the Sham Stakes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040321USA8-EQB.html

7:46 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Fresh off of a pair of dominating turf wins, trainer Phil D'Amato's Charmaine's Mia heads a solid field of eight older fillies and mares going one mile on turf in the Royal Heroine Stakes. Previously headquartered at Woodbine Racetrack, Charmaine's Mia, in her first start for D'Amato was a rousing 2 ½ length winner of the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes going six furlongs on turf January 9 while dismissed at odds of 16-1.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040321USA9-EQB.html

Sunday, April 4

4:30 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Idle since winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint November 7 at Keeneland, champion female sprinter Gamine towers over her competition going six furlongs in Sunday's Las Flores Stakes. Supplemented at a cost of $2,000, owner Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine will face three rival fillies and mares in what will be her first start at Santa Anita since she aired by 6 ¼ lengths in her debut on March 7, 2020. A winner of both the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on June 20 and the Grade 1 Test Stakes going seven furlongs at Saratoga August 8, Gamine has four wins from six starts with earnings of $883,000.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA040421USA2-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup: Saturday’s Triple On The Road To The Kentucky Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds is the final local Kentucky Derby qualifier, awarding 100-40-20-10 points to the top-four finishers.

Godolphin seeks its first Kentucky Derby win but could have as many as three entries on the first Saturday in May with unbeaten Champion 2-Year-Old Essential Quality, who runs in Saturday's Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland, and Group 2 UAE Derby winner Rebel's Romance.

If Prevalence is to join Godolphin's Derby contingent, he'll need to finish first or second in the Wood Memorial to garner the required qualifying points.

Unbeaten in two starts, the son of multiple champion-producing stallion Medaglia d'Oro has yet to start at graded stakes level. The talented bay colt shined going seven furlongs on debut on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, which he won by 8 ½ lengths in paid workout-like fashion.

The debut score had trainer Brendan Walsh and Godolphin USA president Jimmy Bell considering going right into graded stakes company in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park. However, a fever altered the colt's training schedule and the connections called an audible with Prevalence returning victorious in a one-turn optional-claiming mile on March 11 at Gulfstream.

“I really think that's the goodness of having an allowance race,” Bell said. “A lot of time you get that wow factor of a first performance and then you don't get that in their second race. In all fairness, it is their lifetime second start, so they are still figuring things out. That's more natural than an issue. Perhaps it's maybe a blessing in going back in an allowance race. He got good experiences in both races. To have those two races under his belt. They were both progressive steps.”

Prevalence breezed a stiff half-mile in 47.60 seconds at Palm Meadows Training Center on Sunday, the fastest of 30 works at the distance.

“His last work showed that his energy level was where it needed to be,” Bell said. “He went a half in 47 and 3 and galloped out as easy as possible, so his energy level right there said it all. He's an easy horse to read. You know where he's at and what he's feeling. Certainly, the extra time and having the Wood Memorial where it is on the calendar was important.”

Bell said the Wood Memorial will dictate the direction of the horse's sophomore campaign.

“When the race is finished, he'll answer all our questions and point us in one direction or another,” Bell said. “We want to let him show us what he is or isn't or what he can or can't do. Even if you can't run a mile and a quarter, there's good races and great careers that come underneath that.”

Prevalence represents Godolphin's legacy and that of his multiple champion-producing sire Medaglia d'Oro as well. The prolific stallion has stood at Darley Stud, Godolphin's breeding division, since 2009 and has been amongst the leading sires in North America.

Bell identified a similar mental strength between Prevalence and his sire.

“They both have that ability to respond to whatever and however,” Bell said. “They put all their energy into their running. I'm a big believer in mental toughness as well as physical ability. It's important to have it all from a physical standpoint but having it mentally all together is also important. During his racing career, Medaglia d'Oro showed up on a lot of big days and was very consistent. This one is consistent so far as well.”

Medaglia d'Oro, a three-time Grade 1-winner who captured the 2002 Travers, also is the sire of Wood Memorial aspirant Risk Taking, who likely poses the biggest threat to Prevalence.

“It would be nice to see a Medaglia d'Oro in the winner's circle,” Bell said.

Godolphin enjoyed a record-extending ninth triumph in the Group 1 $12 million Dubai World Cup last Saturday with Mystic Guide, which will be a tough act to follow for the lightly raced Prevalence.

Bell said Mystic Guide will get some rest and relaxation after a 3 ¾-length victory in the Dubai World Cup. The son of Ghostzapper trained by Michael Stidham was Godolphin's first North American-based and trained Dubai World Cup winner.

Bell said that Mystic Guide could return to action this summer at Saratoga Race Course.

“It's been a phenomenal 2021 for him and us both,” Bell said. “Watching him show us the talent he has and that he can get the mile and a quarter distance was gratifying to see. He'll get a pretty good break coming back home after two just unbelievable races this year We're talking more Saratoga-ish time of the year.”

Never worse than third in eight career starts, Mystic Guide won last year's Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga before a close second to Happy Saver in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. After a 4 ½-month layoff, he returned to action with a six-length win in the Grade 3 Razorback over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park en route to Dubai.

“He showed that he can handle any kind of track it seems,” Bell said. “It's never an easy assignment to ship halfway around the world and bring your 'A' game. He handled it all very well. He showed that he's made a big development not only physically but mentally as well. It takes a certain type of horse mentally and physically to handle that travel on a big night. He certainly shined on the right evening.”

The post ‘They Put All Their Energy Into Running’: Prevalence Evokes Memories Of His Sire, Medaglia D’Oro appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast Saturday from 1-7 p.m. Eastern on FS2.

Saturday is one of Aqueduct's signature days, with five stakes on the offering, highlighted by the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino. The Grade 2 Kentucky Derby prep will see nine 3-year-olds compete in the nine-furlong contest with 100-40-20-10 qualifying points available to the top-four finishers.

The 96th running of the Wood Memorial will air on NBSCN as part of a live national broadcast beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET and scheduled to include the Grade 2, $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass from Keeneland and the Grade 1, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby from Santa Anita Park.

Prior to the NBCSN broadcast, national television coverage of the Wood Memorial Day card on FS2 will showcase exciting stakes action, including the first Grade 1 of 2021 on the New York circuit with the $300,000 Carter Handicap for 4-year-olds and up going seven furlongs in Race 6 at 3:25 p.m.

The five-horse Carter will see 4-year-old Mischevious Alex try to go 3-for-3 for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Other contenders include Mind Control, Souper Stonehenge, Shoplifted and Chateau.

The Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle for sophomore fillies going nine furlongs in Race 9 at 5:09 p.m. will see an eight-horse field compete in a 100-40-20-10-point qualifier to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30.

Brown will saddle stakes winners Search Results and The Grass Is Blue, while the Graham Motion-trained Mia Martina tries dirt for the first time after closing from deep to finish fourth last out in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks.

A stacked undercard will also include the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs in Race 3 at 1:51 p.m., while 4-year-olds and up will contest at nine furlongs in the $150,000 Excelsior in Race 8 at 4:31 p.m.

Saturday will also see America's Day at the Races showcase action from Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which includes the $200,000 Purple Martin for 3-year-old fillies in Race 6 at 4:09 p.m.

Oaklawn's 12-race card will be highlighted by the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles in Race 11 at 6:54 p.m. Like the Gazelle, the Fantasy is also a 100-40-20-10-point qualifier to the Kentucky Oaks, and the road to Churchill Downs will see the respective second, third and fifth-place finishers in last month's Grade 3 Honeybee matchup again in Pauline's Pearl, Sun Path and Coach. Pauline's Pearl, trained by Hall of Famer Steve

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 65,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post America’s Day At The Races To Showcase Stacked Wood Memorial Card appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Wood Memorial drew a field of nine, led by the one-two finishers in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes last month in Weyburn and Crowded Trade, respectively. Another stakes winner who may belong is Risk Taking, who won the Grade 3 Withers Stakes in February at Aqueduct but who skipped the Gotham. Brooklyn Strong won the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes over the track at the distance of the Wood Memorial, but it may be a tall order to pick up where he left off following four months on the bench and versus horses which all ran much more recently.

Candy Man Rocket won the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes in February before an 11th of 12 finish in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and it may be a stretch to go from next-to-last in that recent race to a top competitor in the Wood Memorial. Market Maven and Bourbonic finished first and second, respectively, in an allowance race at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania but appear overmatched, as does recent maiden winner Dynamic One.

Then there's Prevalence, a strong winner of both starts in his career shipping in to New York from Florida for Godolphin, which already has a significant presence on the “Road to the Derby” with Rebel's Romance (winner of the U.A.E. Derby last weekend), Essential Quality (running in the Blue Grass Stakes), and Proxy.

Weyburn was disregarded by bettors at 46 to 1 odds one month ago in the Gotham Stakes but proved to be an exceptionally tough competitor when winning by a nose. After attending the pace only a half-length behind the leader for the first half-mile, Weyburn engaged for the lead for the rest of the race, first battling head and head with Freedom Fighter then battling nose and nose the entire last eighth of a mile with Crowded Trade. That effort occurring one month ago leads me to believe he will not regress and will move forward to run even better in the Wood Memorial. Considering Weyburn earned a career-best 105 Equibase Speed Figure, tied for best in the field with Crowded Trade, it would take significant improvement by any other runner except Crowded Trade to run faster than Weyburn demonstrating logical improvement in his second start following three months off. As such, Weyburn gets slight preference among two horses I feel stand out against the rest in terms of their probability to win this race.

Crowded Trade has no knocks, having won in his career debut at the end of January before stepping into stakes company in the Gotham Stakes last month and giving it his all. Third place Gotham finisher Highly Motivated is looking for different scenery this weekend and will run in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. With no other horse having run as fast as either Crowded Trade (or Weyburn) who earned a 105 figure in the Gotham, this lightly raced colt making his third career start has significant improving he can do and must be considered a strong contender to win. As to his breeding to run this nine furlong trip, there's no doubt as a son of More Than Ready that is not an issue as the sire's Catholic Boy won graded stakes at a mile and one-quarter. Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by red hot Eric Cancel, Crowded Trade has every right to turn the tables on Weyburn in their second meeting and move on to the Kentucky Derby in fine form.

Prevalence, like Crowded Trade, has only run twice, and likewise his second race was a one-turn mile in which he ran impressively. After winning his debut by eight lengths in handy fashion with a 99 figure, Prevalence won his second start just as easily by three lengths with a 98 figure but likely could have gone faster. Perhaps more importantly, after he crossed the finish line it was noted by the astute chart caller for Equibase that Prevalence was “urged past the wire for an eighth of a mile or so past the finish.” This is significant, as it shows a plan beforehand between jockey Tyler Gaffalione (who rides in the Wood) and trainer Brendan Walsh (who trained top 3-year-old Maxfield last year) to give the colt experience at running the distance of his next race. Being a son of Medaglia d'Oro, who sired tremendous stakes winners like Songbird and Wonder Gadot, if Prevalence got the foundation for this race as intended, improving enough to win the Wood Memorial is not out of the question.

In case readers are wondering, the reason I'm not considering Risk Taking a win contender has to do with the fact he comes back from two months off after winning the Withers Stakes in February. Although the 102 figure earned in that race may be competitive with the top horses in the Wood if he improves on it, the fact that he skipped the Gotham and most of his opponents ran more recently gives me pause.

The rest of the field, with their best representative Equibase Speed Figures, is Bourbonic (88), Brooklyn Strong (99), Candy Man Rocket (90), Dynamic One (87) and Market Maven (94).

Win Contenders:
Weyburn
Crowded Trade
Prevalence

Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino – Grade 2
Race 10 at Aqueduct
Saturday, April 3 – Post Time 5:58 PM E.T.
One Mile and One Eighth
Three Year Olds
Purse: $750,000
TV: NBC Sports Network 5:30 – 7:30 PM ET

The post Equibase Analysis: Weyburn Poised To Validate Gotham Upset In Wood Memorial appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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From the time he started working at NYRA in November 1979, Imbriale has handled multiple responsibilities, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, and as a familiar voice as the backup announcer.

His perseverance led to his appointment as the circuit's full-time race-caller and announcer in January 2020, and another milestone will be reached as Imbriale will call his first Wood Memorial; a 1 1/8-mile prep race for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby offering 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the “Run for the Roses” to the top-four finishers.

Imbriale worked as NYRA's Director of Television Production before replacing Larry Collmus as the full-time announcer last January. Just two months later, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down racing, with the Wood Memorial not being contested for the first time since the race's inaugural running in 1925.

When racing in New York resumed in June, Imbriale got to check off a litany of career firsts: calling his first Belmont Stakes, and American Classic overall, with Tiz the Law's victory in the Belmont Stakes, as well as the New York-bred's victory in the first Travers he called during the Saratoga Race Course summer meet.

After being on the mic for the signature races at Belmont Park and Saratoga, the 66-year-old Imbriale will finally get to call the most well-known race at the track he considers home, and fittingly the Ozone Park-based track will offer up another special moment for a graduate of the Queens-based St. John's University.

“It does make it extra special because I've called more races at Aqueduct than any place else,” Imbriale said. “It just has to do with age and being around forever; I called a lot of races when we ran on the [now defunct] inner track. Now, moving to the Wood Memorial, it's good to add that to the resume and I just hope everything turns out OK.”

The chance to call a Wood Memorial was a long-time coming from a man who paid a lot of dues from the time he won a 1979 New York Daily News contest which gave him the opportunity to call a race and work with the NYRA press office. In 1990, Imbriale became Tom Durkin's backup and has since been part of NYRA's race-calling team at all three tracks.

Imbriale's patience paid off with the opportunity to narrate some historic moments, with the reality of 2020 leading to some unique circumstances, such as his first Belmont Stakes assignment being a 1 1/8 one-turn mile instead of the traditional 1 1/2-mile test. The Belmont also served as the first leg of the Triple Crown series instead of its customary closing race on the trail.

Imbriale has been present for many seminal racing moments, but his knowledge extends even further to his time as a fan, reaching back to the 1973 Wood when Secretariat was outkicked by Angle Light and Sham before going on to craft arguably the most dominant Triple Crown run in the sport's history.

“I never thought I'd call an American Classic, let alone around one turn, two turns or three turns,” Imbriale said with a laugh. “But I always got a kick of looking at the video of the 1973 Wood when Secretariat lost. I think seeing that race and knowing how he turned out, it makes you think that anything is possible. You can't go by one race. A lot of us go back to our roots and I love going through the old videos when I worked in TV production.”

That unpredictability has Imbriale excited for this year's edition of the Wood, which has seen 11 of its winners go on to the capture the Kentucky Derby [with Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000 being the last do so].

“The Wood has a tremendous history,” Imbriale said. “The Derby has opened up a little this year, so maybe there's more excitement and possibilities from horses who come from anywhere to use it as a springboard to good things. When they've only run a few times, you don't know which way it'll go.

“I think what you root for in a big race like that is either you get a stretch run like in the Gotham [when Weyburn edged Crowded Trade by a nose on March 6], which doesn't happen too often, or you hope that someone steps up. They're so lightly raced, you don't know who is going to take that next step. To me, the unknown and the anticipation for the Wood makes it so fun.”

The nine-furlong Wood will provide a two-turn test for Triple Crown trail-hopefuls in what is a traditional harbinger for seeing if a 3-year-old can compete at the highest level of his division. Imbriale said two-turns can also be beneficial for the ones calling the action.

“Announcers like two-turn races because it starts right in front of you,” he said. “With the Belmont last year going a mile and an eighth, you're on an angle a little bit and you don't want to miss anything with the break. Here, there's no excuse; the break is right in front. It allows things to play out when it's a mile and an eighth. If you get a horse who is off slow, there's time to recover. You see who is getting position into the first turn after the break and then they settle on the backstretch. Then, you see who makes the move out of the [far] turn, and we have a few closers in the potential field. It looks like a pretty good mix of 3-year-olds that we'll have.”

The Kentucky Derby aspect makes the stakes higher with greater attention paid to what is said on the microphone, and the fact those races will have the endings replayed often in the lead-up to the “Run for the Roses” at Churchill Downs. Imbriale said the same fundamentals as with any race come in to play, but announcers tend to be mindful that certain races will naturally get the adrenaline flowing.

“You try to make sure your basic stuff is covered, making sure you pick up a horse if he makes a move, just the stuff you do in a normal race,” he said. “But in the back of your mind, you know that the horse who wins the Wood is going to be talked about going into the Derby, and you know your call is going to get played more often than in other races. You try to take care of basic business but with your excitement level, it's just natural that it's going to be higher.”

Imbriale will realize one of his career's biggest dreams in calling the Wood, marking another milestone in a journey that featured working with Harvey Pack on the popular “Inside Racing” program. He also will add his name to a prestigious list of race callers who have called Wood Memorials, with the list of legendary announcers including Collmus, Tom Durkin, Marshall Cassidy, Chic Anderson, Dave Johnson and Fred Caposella.

“It popped into my mind every now and then, but first Marshall Cassidy was here, then Tom Durkin, then Larry Collmus, so my opportunity came late,” Imbriale said. “I had the privilege to watch all of them work and learn from them. Once you get to a certain age, the thought that you are going to get a chance to do this really diminishes. But, it worked out.

“I knew I was the backup announcer and I always thought I was really lucky to be calling as many races as I was primarily here at Aqueduct and a little at Belmont and just a little Saratoga,” he continued. “But it was still calling races in New York, and to me, New York is still the place to be when it comes to year-round racing.”

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The nine-furlong two-turn contest is the final local qualifier for the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs and awards 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

The Wood Memorial, which has seen 11 winners go on to win the “Run for the Roses” in its illustrious history, will air on NBSCN as part of a live national broadcast beginning at 5:30 p.m. Eastern and scheduled to include the Grade 2, $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass from Keeneland and the Grade 1, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park.

Prior to the NBCSN broadcast, national television coverage of the Wood Memorial Day card from Aqueduct can be found on America's Day at the Races on FS2 beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

The Wood Memorial is one of five graded events on Saturday at the Big A, including the first New York Grade 1 race of the year in the $300,000 Carter for 4-year-olds and up going seven furlongs; the Grade 3, $200,000 Bayshore for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs; the Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior for 4-year-olds and up going nine furlongs; and the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle, a nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

Godolphin, whose royal blue colors saw the winner's circle in the 2015 Wood Memorial with Frosted, will seek their second Wood triumph with the highly regarded Prevalence. The Brendan Walsh-trained son of Medaglia d'Oro is 2-for-2 at Gulfstream Park to start and his career will see two turns for the first time.

Prevalence, the 3-1 morning-line second choice, posted an 8 ½-length debut win going seven furlongs on January 23. The talented bay colt defeated Stage Raider, a half-brother to 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, as part of a talented field.

“There were a bunch of horses in that race being touted,” Walsh said. “A lot of them have come back and run well, which showed that the form was respectable. He won by a very wide margin and no matter the company you're in that's pretty remarkable.”

He handled a stretch out to a mile on March 11 over the same track, besting an optional claiming field by three lengths. Despite needing light handling in the final sixteenth, Walsh expressed no concern.

“It was just a little bit of greenness. I'm sure if he had company it would have helped him along,” Walsh said.

Prevalence displayed an up close running style in both efforts and Walsh said that his horse should show the same tactics on Saturday.

“He's quick, so with that kind of speed, he should be prominent in the race,” Walsh said. “He hits me as a horse who can handle any kind of surface.”

Prevalence, a Kentucky homebred, is out of the Ghostzapper mare Enrichment, a full-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Better Lucky and stakes-winning turf sprinter Final Frontier.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione retains the mount aboard Prevalence from post 6.

Prevalence will face four graded stakes-winners who have already earned triumphs on the Derby trail. His biggest challenge comes from Risk Taking, who was made the 5-2 morning line favorite after flaunting excellence in both of his starts going nine furlongs at Aqueduct.

Owned by Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown, Risk Taking benefitted from the addition of blinkers and added distance in his third career start, where the son of Medaglia d'Oro broke his maiden December 13 at the Big A. Risk Taking settled several lengths off a slow pace while saving ground along the rail before drawing off to a 2 ¼-length win over eventual winners The Reds and Unbridled Honor.

Risk Taking secured 10 Derby qualifying points with a 3 3/4-length Withers win, hitting the wire first after securing advantage inside the final furlong.

Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey, Jr., Risk Taking is out of the dual turf stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Run a Risk. He was a $240,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Risk Taking drew post 4 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Brown and Klaravich are also represented by Crowded Trade, who arrives off a sharp runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Gotham on March 6 at Aqueduct.

The son of More Than Ready won his six-furlong debut coming from 7 1/2 lengths off the pace to get up in the final strides on January 28 at Aqueduct. Despite a cleaner break in the one-turn mile Gotham, Crowded Trade came up just a nose shy after establishing slight command in mid-stretch but did not fend off the inside challenge of upset winner Weyburn.

Breaking from post 2 at 4-1 on the morning line, Crowded Trade will be ridden by winter meet leading rider Eric Cancel.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is in pursuit of a sixth Wood Memorial victory when he saddles Dynamic One [post 5, Jose Ortiz, 12-1] and Bourbonic [post 3, Kendrick Carmouche, 30-1].

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Phipps Stable's Dynamic One graduated at fourth asking when traveling nine furlongs on March 7 at Aqueduct.

In his previous starts around two turns, both at Gulfstream Park, Dynamic One finished a respective second and fourth, with the former coming 1 ½ length shy of victory to dual graded stakes-winner Greatest Honour.

“He's always trained well,” said Pletcher. “He was a little unlucky in his two races at Gulfstream to draw the outside post both times, so we were happy to see him get the job done with the maiden win at Aqueduct. We're going to step up and give him a chance.”

Bred in Kentucky by co-owner Phipps Stable, Dynamic One was bought for $725,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Pletcher also sends out Calumet Farm's Bourbonic, who takes a major jump up in class. The son of Bernardini notched both of his lifetime victories at Aqueduct going a one-turn mile. He arrives at the Wood Memorial off a runner-up finish in a Parx Racing optional-claiming event on February 23.

“It's a big step. We're taking a shot hoping that we will improve,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher previously won the Wood Memorial with Eskendereya [2010], Gemologist [2012], Verrazano [2013], Outwork [2016], and Vino Rosso [2018].

Cheifswood Stables Limited's Grade 3 Gotham-hero Weyburn seeks to be the first horse since I Want Revenge [2009] to win the Gotham-Wood Memorial double.

The Ontario-bred son of Pioneerof the Nile tracked pacesetter Freedom Fighter from second before battling with Crowded Trade down the stretch to score a 46-1 upset. Weyburn earned 50 Derby points and is currently 10th on the leaderboard.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens will seek a second Wood Memorial victory after sending out Wicked Strong in 2014.

Trevor McCarthy retains the mount aboard Weyburn from post 8 at morning line odds of 9-2.

A former Wood winner has sired another Wood winner three times in the past 10 years. Brooklyn Strong, a son of 2014 Wood winner Wicked Strong, will look to add to that list in making his sophomore bow for trainer Daniel Velazquez.

Bred in New York by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan, Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong last raced on December 5, capturing the Grade 2 Remsen on over a sloppy and sealed Aqueduct track.

Brooklyn Strong arrived at the Remsen off a stakes win against his New York-bred counterparts in the Sleepy Hollow on October 24 at Belmont Park.

Manny Franco will be aboard as Brooklyn Strong, at 6-1, will break from the rail.

Candy Man Rocket [post 7, 12-1] seeks redemption after a distant 11th in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby as the beaten favorite. The dark bay Candy Ride colt owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations was a sharp 9 ¼-length winner at second asking going six furlongs on January 9 at Gulfstream Park.

He backed up an impressive maiden victory in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis on February 6 at Tampa Bay Downs, where he was prominently placed and held off a late charge from stablemate Nova Rags.

Jockey Junior Alvarado retains the mount aboard Candy Man Rocket from post 7.

Rounding out the field is Gregory Gordon's homebred Market Maven, who ships from Parx Racing for trainer Penny Pearce. The gelded chestnut son of Super Ninety Nine broke his maiden at third asking against fellow Pennsylvania-breds on January 20 before defeating open company winners at a mile and 70 yards on February 23.

Breaking from post 9 at 30-1, Market Maven will be ridden by Dexter Haddock in his first graded stakes mount.

The Wood Memorial, slated for Race 10 on the card, honors the late Eugene D. Wood, a New York state politician who was responsible for the establishment of the now defunct Jamaica Racetrack, where the Wood Memorial was originally run.

Since its inception, the Wood has been captured by over 20 eventual American classic winners, including Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox [1930], Count Fleet [1943], Assault [1946] and Seattle Slew [1977]. Other prominent American classic winners to have previously won the Wood Memorial include Twenty Grand [1931], Johnstown [1939], Hill Prince [1950], Native Dancer [1953], Nashua [1955], Bold Ruler [1957], Quadrangle [1964] Damascus [1967], Foolish Pleasure [1975], Bold Forbes [1976], Easy Goer [1989] and Empire Maker [2003].

First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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The historic Wood Memorial, which offers 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, is the final local prep for the Run for the Roses slated for Saturday, May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Saturday's lucrative Big A card features the first Grade 1 of 2021 on the NYRA circuit in the $300,000 Carter Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses, and is bolstered by a trio of stakes races, including the Grade 2, $250,000 Gazelle at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points; the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior at nine furlongs for older horses.

The 67-year-old Schwartz, a retired insurance executive, has fond memories of Aqueduct Racetrack.

“The first track I ever went to was Aqueduct,” said Schwartz. “My dad brought me to see the horses and I just loved it. I was seven years old and here we are 60 years later.”

Brooklyn Strong has stirred a renewed passion for racing for the Schwartz family after winning 3-of-4 career starts, including a last-out score in the Grade 2, $150,000 Remsen at Aqueduct.

Schwartz said his wife, Amanda, and their sons Jonathan and Bryan, are counting down the days to Saturday's main event.

“They're excited but no one could be as excited as I am,” said Schwartz, with a laugh. “They're enjoying the experience. My kids are big sports fans but were never really racing fans until now.”

Schwartz, a graduate of Brooklyn College, said coining a name for his stable star came easy, although another option was in the cards for the hockey-loving family who are fans of New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin.

“The name was easy. He's by Wicked Strong and I love Brooklyn,” said Schwartz. “But my kids liked the name Breadman. They like the Rangers and Panarin is called the 'Breadman' but the name happened to be taken.”

Oddly enough, Brooklyn Strong defeated Breadman, trained by John Terranova for owner Eric Fein, in the Sleepy Hollow in October at Belmont Park on Empire Showcase Day.

The victory marked just the second stakes score for Brooklyn Strong's trainer Daniel Velazquez, who had captured the race prior, the Maid of the Mist, with filly Laobanonaprayer, a $15,000 purchase owned by the young conditioner.

“Isn't it weird how that worked out,” said Schwartz. “Breadman is actually a very good horse and was an expensive purchase, but our horse got to be named Brooklyn Strong and I think it's the right name for him.”

The Wood Memorial holds strong memories for Schwartz, who was among the 43,416 in attendance on April 21, 1973 when Angle Light upset Secretariat.

“I remember it being crowded,” said Schwartz. “There was a buzz and big noise around Secretariat. I've never seen a horse so big in my life. He was huge. He's still the greatest horse ever. No other horse is comparable.”

Secretariat, the 1972 Horse of the Year, was set to be tested by Sham, who had won the Santa Anita Derby. But it was the unheralded Angle Light, Secretariat's entry mate, who would pull off a stunning frontrunning upset.

“Sham was sitting second and looking for Secretariat to make his move and because of that he moved too late,” recalled Schwartz. “Angle Light kept on going and won by a head. Sham was second.”

Schwartz said the crowd was stunned at the result.

“Secretariat ran third in the Wood if you can believe it. It was not his day. Later, they said he was sick that day. It just shows that anything can happen,” said Schwartz.

Angle Light, a $15,500 yearling purchase owned by Toronto, Ontario native Edwin Whittaker, had his day in the sun and Secretariat would win the Kentucky Derby next out en route to Triple Crown immortality.

Schwartz comes into Saturday's event with his own underdog in Brooklyn Strong, a $5,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. The handsome bay is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Riviera Chic, who had produced a pair of winners – Danielle's Pride and American Mission – from three foals.

“I bought him without asking anybody,” said Schwartz, who usually attends sales with his young trainer in tow. “Maybe Danny shouldn't have left me alone there.

“I liked his breeding and he ran a 10.2 and I liked the video I saw. Being a New York-bred was definitely a part of it. We live near the track and we can run him there, but I think I would have bought him no matter where he was bred,” added Schwartz. “When he was so cheap I thought I just had to buy the horse. The funny thing is you never get any of the big guys bidding against you when it's a $5,000 horse.”

Schwartz said he called Velazquez after the purchase and was immediately admonished.

“I called Danny and he said, 'You bought a $5,000 horse? What did I tell you!'” said Schwartz with a laugh.

Brooklyn Strong has proven to be an astute purchase. After a debut maiden claiming win in September at Delaware Park under Abner Adorno, Brooklyn Strong stepped into stakes company and finished third in the Bertram F. Bongard on October 2 at Belmont with Eric Cancel up.

The gelding redeemed himself when piloted to victory by Jose Ortiz in the Sleepy Hollow on October 24 at Belmont and followed with a neck score engineered by Joel Rosario in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen on December 5 at the Big A, garnering a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure and 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Schwartz credits Velazquez for the development of Brooklyn Strong from a modest purchase to a legitimate Derby contender with $195,000 in the bank.

“Danny is like a third son. I can't imagine a harder worker,” said Schwartz. “He's a terrific trainer and when he tells me a horse is ready to win, he's almost always right. He really knows when he has a horse just right.

“I told him this is his breakout year and his chance to show people what he can do,” continued Schwartz. “He got a break getting these horses for so little money and making them good horses. He's a great evaluator of the talent that he gets. He's not the type of trainer that can go out and spend $300,000 at a sale. He got the Laoban filly for $15,000 and I got into a lucky spot on my own buying 'Brooklyn'.”

Manny Franco will pick up the mount on Saturday to become the fifth jockey in as many starts on the young horse and will need to hit the exacta to pick up enough points to jump from 33rd in the Kentucky Derby points standings into one of the 20 available stalls.

Schwartz said he is optimistic of a big effort after watching Known Agenda, who finished third in the Remsen, dominate in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

“I think now more than ever the Derby is wide open, but we have to finish first or second to get there,” said Schwartz. “I'd like to see Franco have him third or fourth on the outside and make his move at the top of the stretch and blow by everybody. That's been his action and I wouldn't want to change. I'd love to see him win big but any victory would be fine. I know he can run all day.”

Due to New York State COVID-19 guidelines, Saturday's Wood Memorial will be conducted without spectators and only a limited number of owners and essential personnel onsite. However, Schwartz ensures that his small group will do their best to make as much noise as the 40,000 fans that attended the 1973 edition.

“If you watch the TV replays of our other races, you can see Danny and I embarrassing ourselves up in the second level,” said Schwartz. “Our little group will be screaming, for sure. It's a little different for the big owners and big trainers – they've seen this before, we haven't. We react a bit differently. It's a lot of fun and a lot of excitement. I can't wait.”

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The Wood offers the winner 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Tyler Gaffalione will head north to ride Prevalence, who is conditioned by Brendan Walsh.

“The way we're approaching it is the race will do the deciding not us hoping and thinking and hypothesizing,” Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin U.S., told DRF. “Hopefully, the result will point you in one direction or another.”

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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The Wood Memorial card features the first Grade 1 of 2021 on the NYRA circuit in the $300,000 Carter Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses. The stakes-laden day also features the $250,000 Gazelle at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers; the $200,000 Bay Shore, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores; and the $150,000 Excelsior at nine furlongs for older horses.

By Empire Maker and out of the Bernardini mare Spare Change, Roman Centurian finished fourth last out to the victorious Life Is Good in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 San Felipe at Santa Anita Park.

The dark bay colt, a $550,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, breezed back for the first time Thursday at Santa Anita covering a half-mile in 50.40 seconds.

“I think there's a very good chance that we will ship to New York,” said Callaghan. “He breezed very well yesterday and we were happy. He'll breeze again next week and it's looking more likely that we'll come.”

After a debut fourth sprinting in a maiden event won by Life Is Good in November at Del Mar, Roman Centurian stretched out to 1 1/16-miles for his second-out graduation on Jan. 3 at Santa Anita. He exited that effort to finish a good second in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita, rallying from last-of-6 to miss by a neck to Medina Spirit in the 1 1/16-mile test.

Roman Centurian is currently 33rd on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 9 points. Callaghan said a trip to New York for the Wood Memorial, which offers 100-40-20-10 points to the top-four finishers, will suit the improving horse more than a return engagement with Life Is Good in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

“Life is Good is looking like a pretty formidable horse right now and I think that the track at Aqueduct will be more to his liking,” said Callaghan. “We've always liked him. He made good progress from his maiden win to running a close second to Medina Spirit.

“I don't think the race set up very well for him last time,” added Callaghan. “We're hoping that with another race under his belt and moving to a track that we think will be more to his liking, that we'll see a good performance to move him forward.”

The Callaghan-trained Firing Line, who was also a runner-up in the Robert B. Lewis, finished second in the 2015 Kentucky Derby. The veteran conditioner, a native of Great Britain who set up his stable in Southern California in 2009, said Roman Centurian should appreciate the added distance in the nine-furlong Wood Memorial.

“He's a big, scopey two-turn kind of horse,” said Callaghan. “I think he's got some progression in him. He's a nice framed horse who is going to strengthen as the year goes on. We're hoping we can have a good 3-year-old year with him.”

A winner with 2-of-3 starters at the Big A, Callaghan scored with Taris in the 2015 Grade 3 Go for Wand and with Out of The Flames in the 2018 Mizdirection. He sent out Americanize to finish fourth in the 2017 Grade 1 Cigar Mile.

Callaghan said a local rider is likely to pick up the Wood mount aboard Roman Centurian.

A probable list of Wood Memorial contenders includes Brooklyn Strong (Daniel Velazquez), Crowded Trade (Chad Brown), Dynamic One (Todd Pletcher), Nicky the Vest (Jonathan Thomas), Overtook (Pletcher), Risk Taking (Brown), and Weyburn (Jimmy Jerkens). Also under consideration are Prevalence (Brendan Walsh) and Rombauer (Michael McCarthy).

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