Tipsheet: The Wood Memorial Stakes 2021

The Wood Memorial Stakes Tipsheet

An excellent field of nine sophomores will contest the $750,000 Wood Memorial S. (G2) at Aqueduct on Saturday. The 1 1/8-mile event will reward the top four finishers with qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 structure on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby. 

Wood Memorial Picks

• #8 Weyburn
• #4 Risk Taking
• #6 Prevalence
• #2 Crowded Trade

Wood Memorial Wagers

• $20 Win 8
• $3 Exacta Key Box 8 with 2,4,6
• 50-cent Superfecta 8 with 2,4,6 with 2,4,6 with all

Wood Memorial Contenders

#1 BROOKLYN STRONG impressed with a game tally in the Remsen S. (G2) to conclude his juvenile campaign but will make his seasonal debut in a tough spot. The obviously talented gelding draws well inside and is training in fine fashion coming up to this, but he picked a difficult race for his three-year-old bow. Manny Franco rides.

#2 CROWDED TRADE led late before being nipped in a fine Gotham S. (G3) try most recently. One of two from the Chad Brown shedrow, the More Than Ready chestnut has a lot of raw ability and could be any kind going two turns for the initial time. Eric Cancel will guide the win contender.

#3 BOURBONIC was runner-up in a Parx allowance tilt in his first with winners, but the former claimer will need vast improvement to have a say in the outcome on Saturday for Pletcher. Carmouche gets the assignment.

#4 RISK TAKING has vaulted forward with a pair of stylish victories since adding blinkers, led by a sharp tally in the Withers S. (G3) in February. The sturdy son of Medaglia d’Oro is training in solid fashion in advance of his toughest test to date, and he will be difficult to keep out of the top three with his best performance. Irad coming in to ride is a major coup.

#5 DYNAMIC ONE is the second from the Pletcher barn and was a fine maiden winner on the surface in his most recent outing. The expensive Union Rags colt will need continued ascension to pull off the upset in this spot, however. Jose Ortiz will be up.

#6 PREVALENCE gets his first real test following a pair of facile tallies in the Sunshine State for Walsh. The impressive Godolphin homebred has displayed gate speed with a fine closing kick to date, and his pedigree suggests that going two turns will be an asset to him, as well. Kentucky-bred colt sizzled a bullet half-mile in his latest drill and will have regular pilot Gaffalione for the voyage.

#7 CANDY MAN ROCKET bagged the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) two back, prior to faltering in the stretch of the recent Tampa Bay Derby (G2). Mott trainee has obvious ability and very good early foot, and he figures to be an early presence at the very least on Saturday. Junior retains the mount.

#8 WEYBURN upset the Gotham off the layoff and will aim to prove that he is no fluke for Jimmy Jerkens. Pioneerof the Nile youngster is bred to thrive going long, and I expect him to ace his initial two-turn test on Saturday. The dark bay will be prompting the pace from the break beneath McCarthy.

#9 MARKET MAVEN has improved his Brisnet Speed number in each lifetime try in preparation for his stakes debut. The Keystone State-bred colt is facing his toughest field to date for sure, but he is improving with each outing, and the late bloomer could be an exotics type at a price with another step in the right direction.