Tipsheet: 2022 Wood Memorial Stakes

An octet of talented three-year-olds will vie in the $750,000 Wood Memorial S. (G2) at Aqueduct on Saturday. The 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event will reward the top four finishers with qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 basis.

Wood Memorial Stakes Picks

• #1 Mo Donegal
• #5 Morello
• #3 Early Voting
• #6 Skippylongstocking

Wood Memorial Stakes Wagers

• $15 win and place 1
• $4 trifecta box 1, 3, 5

Wood Memorial Stakes Contenders

#1 MO DONEGAL gets the nod in his second attempt of the season for Todd Pletcher. The well-meant son of Uncle Mo finished a productive third behind clear winner White Abarrio in the Holy Bull S. (G3) last time out, and he benefits from having a tally on this course at the distance. The late runner will have a solid pace to rally into with Joel Rosario taking the reins.

#2 GOLDEN CODE is the second of three from the Pletcher shedrow who exits a useful third in the recent Gotham S. (G3). The Empire State-bred will go two turns for the initial time, and the son of Honor Code might appreciate the added ground in this one. Kendrick Carmouche will guide the exotics contender.

#3 EARLY VOTING has run two fields off of their proverbial feet from as many outings for Chad Brown. The Gun Runner colt looked the part in his dominant tally in the Withers S. (G3) last time out, and he comes in fresh with two wins on the oval for a top outfit. The fleet prospect rates as the one to catch with Jose Ortiz signed on once again.

#4 LONG TERM removes the blinkers in hopes of picking up his first win in the graded ranks. The consistent colt will have no trouble negotiating the nine-furlong distance, but he has to improve to challenge for the upset inside the final furlong on Saturday. Javier Castellano will be up.

#5 MORELLO brings an unbeaten three-for-three mark into the race for Steve Asmussen, winning his starts by a combined 13 1/4 lengths. The excellent son of Classic Empire will travel two turns for the first time, but he was finishing fast in his latest assignment, and the tactical colt will enjoy a solid trip while being forwardly placed once again. The underrated chestnut will have regular rider Jose Lezcano in the silks.

#6 SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING showed a new dimension when rating and closing in a recent allowance victory for Saffie Joseph, and I think that he has real exotics appeal at a big number. The bay son of Exaggerator is steadily improving as of late, and his recent win at 1 1/8 miles impressed me, too. Late runner will be passing horses in the lane under Junior Alvarado.

#7 A. P.’S SECRET regressed some when unplaced in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) in his latest appearance, and the colt will need a big move forward to be in the mix late on Saturday. The talented son of Cupid will always be near the pace with Manny Franco signed on for Joseph.

#8 BARESE is three-for-three with New York-bred foes and will tackle open company for the first time for Maker. The Laoban colt has improved his Brisnet Speed number in each lifetime try to date, and he showed a lot of heart in running down a clear one late on the oval last time out. The intriguing bay will have Dylan Davis in the stirrups.

Meet the Contenders for the 2022 Wood Memorial

Download the full betting guide for a 5-star rating of each horse's winning potential.

• MO DONEGAL
  • Pro: Returns to site and distance of biggest win: the Remsen (G2) last December.
  • Con: Only one start this year and could be primed to peak in the big one next out.
• GOLDEN CODE
  • Pro: Decent third in Gotham (G3) conceding experience; might like two turns.
  • Con: Waters much deeper this time and big step forward needed.
• EARLY VOTING
  • Pro: Ran rivals off their feet in Withers (G3); might be too fast for these.
  • Con: Speed has fared poorly in this race for more than a decade.
• LONG TERM
  • Pro: Four-start maiden bred to be at best going long.
  • Con: Beaten favorite last three and toppling winners in a G2 a long shot.
• MORELLO
  • Pro: Dual stakes winner has made it look easy in trio of victories this winter.
  • Con: A very good horse around one turn, but two turns could prove a lot tougher.
• SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING
  • Pro: Finally aced first allowance level in only second try around two turns.
  • Con: Pretty well exposed and prior stakes form nothing to write home about.
• A. P.’S SECRET
  • Pro: Was still in the mix when meeting trouble in the Fountain of Youth; might improve.
  • Con: Both wins have been around one turn, and run style suggests that might be best game.
• BARESRE
  • Pro: Deserving of move to open company after handling New York-breds in first three.
  • Con: Class hike fairly significant and has never tried two turns.