How to bet the Woodhaven Stakes

Grade 1 winner #2 Carson’s Run (9-5) leads a talented field of seven for the $125,000 Woodhaven S. at Aqueduct on Saturday. The one-mile turf event attracted some nice prospects, but it’s hard for me to go against the Christophe Clement trainee for multiple reasons.

Woodhaven Wagers

• $5 superfecta 2 with 4,5 with 4,5,6,7 with 4,5,6,7 ($60)

Purchased for $170,000 as a two-year-old, the son of Cupid had a fine juvenile season led by his Summer S. (G1) romp at Woodbine two back. He concluded 2023 with a troubled ninth, beaten by only 3 3/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita. 

Carson’s Run has improved his Brisnet Speed number in each lifetime run to date and has been training in consistent fashion since February to be ready off the shelf. The colt owns an explosive turn of foot, and combined with the emotional story linked to him, it makes it difficult for me to go against him. Regular pilot Dylan Davis will have the top pick unhurried early while near the back, prior to putting his foes to rest inside the final furlong. 

The Thomas Morley-trained #5 The Big Torpedo (6-1) has flashed good ability while running on the main oval in his last four outings, but I feel the lawn will be his best surface going forward. The Big Brown chestnut had a fine prep for this with a nice second in a one-turn mile event and he has a versatile running style that will come in handy in a race with some pace in the fold. The New York-bred was a solid runner-up in a turf dash on debut in November, and I expect a big effort from the colt at a fair number under Eric Cancel. 

#4 Good Lord Lorrie (9-2) makes the jump from a maiden sprint contest to a route stakes race off the long absence for George Weaver, but I like the aggressive placement and will give the sophomore a top-three chance in this spot. The Hard Spun colt was one of the better turf sprint winners at the Saratoga meeting, in my opinion, and four of his last five morning moves have been on the green, as well. Enticing Flavien Prat to take the reins is a major bonus, as well. 

Chad Brown’s #6 Walley World (7-2) and Bill Mott’s #7 Elysian Meadows (9-2), will make the lower rungs of the exotics.