3 minute read

These races will give the top 5 runners a chance to make the Kentucky Derby field if they haven't already made it in.

Aqueduct hosts the Wood Memorial over 1800m and is Gr 2 rated.  Two unbeaten colts head the market – Deterministic, by Liam's Map, who is with Christophe Clement and Joel Rosario rides.  They are on 7/5, and then Tuscan Sky by Vino Rosso is on 4/1 for Pletcher-Franco.  We are obliged to support him having spent time under the Tuscan sky.  Resilience whose sire Into Mischief is seeing his progeny do very well in recent races at home and abroad is on 6/1 for Mott-Velazquez.

Keeneland sees the Gr 1 Blue Grass as the feature on their rich Saturday card.  It's also over 1800m and has a field of 11 headed by Sierra Leone (Gun Runner)2/1 for Brown-Gaffalione who clashes again with Dornach (Good Magic) on 3/1 with Gotham second Just A Touch is a Justify with Cox-Geroux and is on 7/2.

The Santa Anita Derby is also over 1800m and while the Kentucky Derby points are available Baffert's runners wont be eligible.  So Imagination 8/5 – another Into Mischief – who has Dettori in the irons – won't be able to go to Kentucky.  Stronghold has no such problems and is on 5/2 for the Ghostzapper product who is with d'Amato with Fresu riding.  There are two on 6/1 – Tapaio, by Tapitura, for Sadler-Rispoli and McVay by Constitution for Shirriffs-Berrios.