Betting With, and Against, Life is Good in the Woodward Stakes

A compact field of five will travel nine panels on the Aqueduct main surface in Saturday’s $500,000 Woodward S. (G1). The historic race is led by the superb #1 Life is Good (1-9), who comes into the contest off of a pair of sensational victories for conditioner Todd Pletcher.

Life Is Good sports a fine 10-8-1-0 lifetime line which includes a trio of Grade 1 tallies, including a big victory in the Whitney S. (G1) at Saratoga in his latest endeavor. The bay son of Into Mischief is rarely headed and is the controlling speed in this field once again as he warms up for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

He has registered the top pair of Brisnet Speed figures in his career most recently in advance of Saturday, and the colt will be a miniscule price as he is expected to run his foes off of their proverbial feet once again. Irad Ortiz will be in the silks atop the spectacular four-year-old.

Grade 2 victor #4 Keepmeinmind (6-1), also from the Pletcher shedrow, appears to be the best runner-up selection in the field, or an upset threat if the top gun fails to fire. By Laoban, the four-year-old won at 1 1/8 miles in an allowance tilt at Saratoga in his seasonal debut off the long layoff, and he made a sneaky middle move in the Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1) most recently before tiring late. The bay has obvious room for improvement while making his third start off the long absence, and he possesses the best turn of foot in the stretch. Joel Rosario will be in the silks.

If jockey Jose Ortiz sits off the pace before making his run in the event, then I envision #2 Law Professor (8-1) finishing third. The gelded son of Constitution is a Grade 2 winner on the dirt, and he also displayed his versatility when winning a lucrative turf stakes at Kentucky Down in his latest endeavor. The dark bay homebred fired a bullet half-mile at Belmont in advance of Saturday, and his best race will find him grabbing a share late against this cast.

Life is Good – With

• $40 exacta: 1 with 4 ($40)
• $5 trifecta: key 1 with 2, 4 ($10)

Life is Good – Against

• $20 win: #4 Keepmeinmind ($20)
• $20 exacta: 4 with 1 ($20)