The Wood Memorial is the headliner on Saturday’s card at , but there are a number of races leading up to the Grade 2 event that offer strong opportunities to build your bankroll before the big one.

Here are a few horses I will be building my afternoon around in the “Big Apple.”

Race 2

#2 Prompt has not done much running in his first two starts for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, but I do not think we have seen anything near this colt’s best yet. The son of Blame took a significant amount of money in his debut last December, especially for a barn that rarely has their runners cranked on first asking, but disappointed his backers. He never threatened in that race and came back to run a less than impressive fourth on February 18^th.

Prompt may get overlooked in this maiden special weight event on the lawn coming off of two off the board finishes to start his career, but I expect him to appreciate getting off the less than ideal turf course at Gulfstream Park. Mott brings him into his third start off a steady series of drills at Payson Park and legs up Junior Alvarado. I am expecting a big effort at 6 to 1 on the line.

Race 6: The Gazelle, Grade 2

#3 Midnight Disguise is the horse to beat in the 123^rd running of the $300,000 Gazelle, but I am going to gamble on a horse that provides much more value.

#6 My Miss Lilly was an impressive debut winner in the slop for trainer Mark Hennig before consecutive third place finishes against stakes company. Last time out in the $200,000 Busher the daughter of Tapit appeared loaded in the lane, but encountered traffic trouble costing her all chance.

The $670,000 Keeneland September 2016 purchase will need to move forward in the stretch out to a mile and an eighth, but I like her chances of taking to the increase in distance. At anything near her 5 to 1 morning line price I will bet her to win and play her in exotics with the favorite and the undefeated Pennsylvania bred #4 Smokinpaddylassie.

Race 8: The Carter Handicap, Grade 1

The Grade 1 field is led by undefeated Todd Pletcher trainee #2 Army Mule, but I am going to try to beat the 5-2-morning line favorite with #4 Do Share. The son of Candy Ride made his first start off the bench in the Grade 3 Tom Fool and ran a strong second to #9 Skyler’s Scramjet who had a fitness edge and pace advantage in that six furlong dash.

They stretch out to seven panels in the Carter and I expect to move forward after shaking off the rust on March 10^th.  If Junior Alvarado can find a comfortable mid-pack spot during the early stages he should be able to get him to the wire for trainer Linda Rice. 5-1 on the line seems fair.

Good luck on the big day in New York!