- Trainer PPs UPDATED
- Sire PPs UPDATED
Wood Memorial Odds, Analysis, Free PPs
2018 Wood Memorial Free Past Performances Plus Post Positions, Odds and WizCapper’s Analysis
1.) Heartfullofstars – 20-1. Broke his maiden last time out at Santa Anita over Jimmy Chila who will show up against Justify in the Santa Anita Derby. Faced the Baffert entry in here two back in defeat while wearing blinkers for the first time so any reason to consider his chances here are based solely on the fact that he was able to get the nod in his next start after facing a Baffert runner. And that race was over a sloppy Santa Anita surface and there’s rain in the forecast for this weekend at Aqueduct.
2.) Firenze Fire – 6-1. Broke into the graded stakes winners category last summer in the G3 Sanford. Really made some noise when he won the G1 Champagne Stakes in the Fall at Belmont when he beat eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and 2 year old Eclipse award champ Good Magic and Enticed before being trounced by the former at Del Mar. Toss that one over a foreign surface. Got a win here in the Jerome to start 2018 as the heavy favorite in the mud but didn’t beat any of the top trail contenders. Was 2nd two back in the Withers at this distance which is a plus as the only horse in the field to have already gone 9 panels. Could get a piece in here but not expecting a win.
3.) Evaluator – 20-1. New York bred will once again face open company when twice before was no better than 7th in two starts on turf. Made the switch to dirt in the Sleepy Hollow to end 2017 a longshot winner. Opened 2018 a nose short in the Damon Runyan . If there’s any upside it’s the fact that he gets blinkers for the first time. But that only means they’ll try to keep him close and that’s not likely a winning hand.
4.) Old Time Revival – 6-1. Finished second in his last two starts after leading the way through six of the eight furlong distances. Beat Free Drop Billy by four LTO in the Gotham to earn his highest BRIS speed figure to date. That’s the good news. Bad news is he’ll have to carry his speed another two furlongs which, in reality, is a longer shot than his morning line odds indicate.
5.) Enticed – 6-5. The likely winner in here off his best performance to date last time out in the Gotham (G3) with regular rider Alvarado. Liked that he won the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club to close out two-year-old season a winner at Churchill because several runners from that race have come back to win along the Derby trail as upsets. The Wood winner is rarely a strong contender on Derby Day but if this guy wins this one with ease his chances shoot up big time to take home the roses.
6.) Catch Twenty Two – 50-1. Chad Brown gave this son of the 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver away for $50K in a maiden claiming race to start his career. Clipped heels in next out starter allowance for new connections after a three month layoff. Gets blinkers so expect the strategy to be as a presser. Unrealistic expectations for this guy.
7.) King Zachary – 20-1. Taken along slowly by Romans who has several contenders on the Derby trail this year. This guy has improved in each of his three lifetime starts culminating with an impressive 8 length victory last time out at Gulfstream when going two-turns for the first time. It was his maiden score which realistically brings his chances to take another big step up in here less likely. But if this son of Curlin is just starting to show who he is then he might have at least a shot to make it to the big dance with a top two showing in here. Far-fetched for sure.
8.) Restoring Hope – 4-1. Would not be surprised to see this guy take it to the house for Baffert. Won his first and only start last time out beating Jimmy Chila (goes in the Santa Anita Derby at impossible odds against Justify). Prat travels for Baffert to try and spring the mild upset in here. If he does, you can toss Enticed and all of the lower level runners currently listed with points on the leaderboard. And consider Baffert to have the strongest hand going into the Derby on May 5.
9.) Vino Rosso – 9-2. Not sure what to make of this Pletcher prospect. Won his first two starts including his maiden voyage right here at Aqueduct last November. Then took what looks like a gimme as the $0.05 favorite in his next start at Tampa Bay in a $75K OCN1X. Tried graded company in the Sam Davis and finished third before failing to fire in the Tampa Bay Derby with the addition of blinkers. Velasquez has stuck with him throughout and there’s no indication that the blinkers will come off. Saving grace is his win over the track.
Free Wood Memorial Past Performances provided by Brisnet. Look for Todd Pletcher PPs for the Wood Memorial on Saturday.
