Field of 10, No Purse Boost On Tap for Wood Memorial

A field of 10 is taking shape for the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2), which will most likely be contested for its original purse of $750,000 April 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.



While Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Haikal, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) victor Tacitus, and Withers Stakes winner (G3) Tax are targeting the 1 1/8-mile prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), absent from the mix is Mind Control.



According to New York Racing Association stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, Mind Control is "95%" set to race in the Bay Shore Stakes (G3) on the April 6 card. Owned by Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables and trained by Greg Sacco, Mind Control won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) last year. As a grade 1 winner, his presence in the Wood field would have sparked a purse increase to $1 million, but after finishing second in the Gotham, the Kentucky-bred son of Stay Thirsty  is being kept at sprint distances.



Others expected to run in the Wood Memorial, which will award 100-40-20-10 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby chase to the top four finishers, are trainer Todd Pletcher's duo of Overdeliver and Outshine, trainer Jason Servis' pair of Final Jeopardy and Grumps Little Tots, and Joevia, Math Wizard, and Not That Brady.



Also on the April 6 card at the Big A is the $400,000 Carter Handicap (G1), which is shaping up as a small field. Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) runner-up World of Trouble, 2018 Wood Memorial winner Vino Rosso, Identity Politics, and Life in Shambles are probables for the race. 



In his most recent start, World of Trouble won the Jan. 26 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes, which was moved to the main track at Gulfstream Park.



Nicodemus and Skyler's Scramjet are possibilities for the seven-furlong stakes, and the connections of Honor Up, Syndergaard, Timber Ghost, and Killybegs Captain are considering entering.