Shagaf Takes on Wood Memorial Litmus Test

Shadwell Stable and trainer Chad Brown have always held Shagaf in high regard. They will learn whether their hopes are justified when the homebred son of Bernardini   competes in the $1 million Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"It's definitely going to be a litmus test to see how good he is," said Rick Nichols, the U.S. racing manager for Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell operation.

After racing undefeated through three starts, Shagaf is expected to go off as the favorite in the Wood for regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. He drew the rail in a field of eight and is the 2-1 choice on New York Racing Association oddsmaker Eric Donovan's morning line.

Nichols was grim-faced when he called Sheikh Hamdan April 2, minutes after stable star Mohaymen finished a disappointing fourth to victorious Nyquist in the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park for his first defeat in six starts.

The racing manager is optimistic he will be able to give Sheikh Hamdan a more favorable report after the 1 1/8-mile Wood.

"I think the farther Shagaf goes," he said, "the better he is going to be."

The youngster debuted at one mile and rolled by six lengths last Nov. 22 at Aqueduct. After a two-length allowance win on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream, he rallied to defeat Laoban by 1 1/4 lengths in the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct on March 5. His handiwork in the Gotham was particularly impressive because speed had held throughout the card.

PEDULLA: Shadwell's Shagaf Prevails in Gotham Stakes

"He's already made a lot of progress from when he broke his maiden last year until now, both mentally and physically," said trainer Chad Brown. "I do see a lot of room for further improvement."

Brown also will start Flexibility. The Bluegrass Cat   colt, owned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, showed promise in winning the Jerome (gr. III) before a lackluster fourth-place finish in the Withers (gr. III). The Wood represents his first start since the Withers.

"We always planned on giving him that little break you see in between the Withers and the Wood," Brown said. "Unfortunately, it looks like the Withers was one race too many with not enough spacing."

Flexibility, ridden by Manny Franco, worked four furlongs in :48 2/5 seconds in company with Shagaf April 2. "His energy level is terrific," Brown said.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented by Outwork, 5-2 second choice on the morning line. The Uncle Mo   homebred for Repole Stable flashed potential when he ran second in the March 5 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II).

"We hope that race, and the works he's had since then, will move him forward," Pletcher said. Outwork will start from far outside for Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Lady Sheila Stable's Matt King Coal, a Florida-bred son of Bluegrass Cat  , represents another intriguing starter. Trainer Linda Rice was forced to improvise since he missed his initial target, the Jerome on Jan. 2 at Aqueduct, due to a fever. She opted to run in a 1 1/16-mile first-level optional claiming race on March 6 at Aqueduct that he won by one length against a difficult field instead of the Gotham.

"We're excited about the Wood," Rice said. "It's a little added distance, tougher competition, but we're as ready as we can be." Jose Ortiz has the riding assignment.

Tale of S'avall, a homebred son of 2008 Wood winner Tale of Ekati   for owner Charles Fipke, faces an all-or-nothing proposition if he is to advance to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 7. The Wood is worth 100 points to the winner, 50 for second, 20 for third and 10 for fourth, according to the system established by Churchill Downs to filter runners down to the 20 allowed in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses.

After struggling home fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby, Tale of S'avall will need a top-two finish to ensure his place in the Derby starting gate. "The Derby is very difficult to get into," said trainer Barclay Tagg. "I'd like to get there the right way."