The Wood Memorial (Grade 2) (KYD)- $750.000 Purse
AQU- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
April 6, 2019
Three big 100 point prep races for the KYD were held today, and they all had something in common: the trainer that visited the winner’s circle. When all was said and done, Mb Stables has five of the top nine, and six of the top eleven on the official KYD leaderboard. Say what you want about whether or not this is good for the game, it’s a pretty impressive display of domination. What is not good for the game, in my opinion, is that two of the top nine and three of the top eleven horses currently on the leaderboard will not be able to participate in the KYD (unless there are private sales between now and then) due to the restrictions on the race, allowing him only three for the KYD. In other stakes, I understand the rule, but the KYD is a special race, and in my opinion, it should be about the horse, and not the color of the silks worn by the jockey. Beach Dandy is still the favorite for the race, but Mb Stables will still have a large presence. The winning horse in the Wood Memorial is Apples To Oranges, grabbing the trainer’s second win in the stake. Jockey E J Wilson is a first time winner. Congrats to them! The time of the win was 1:48.14. Let’s take a look!
(½ Mile- :45.63)- Pericles is fired out of the starting gate by trainer Aer Stables and jumps out to the quick lead, hoping to set a quick pace for his stablemate, Ranger. He does have some company as Big Universe, yet another outside post starter from Mo Mentum Farm will join him and be within a length. Also interested early was Rocky Mountain Hi for D J C Racing Stables, before M Franco realized this was a little too quick for his liking and backed off just a bit. Just off the lead, we’d have Rainstorm, running well on the rail for Fractious, while Serengeti Sands (TwinTowersRacing) and Traveling Band (D J C Racing Stables) were to his outside. Demon was close by for Joshua Stables. Further back, Ranger was six and a half lengths behind his stablemate, with Blowberg (Estero Farms) to his outside. Instagooglefacetweet (John Henry) and Brady Is A Lady (Sharis Stables) were next. At the back, Dreamscape (Joshua Stables) ran with the two entries for Mb Stables, Apples To Oranges and Salar de Uyuni. At this point in the race, Apples To Oranges, the eventual winner, had nine and a half lengths to make up.
(3/4 Mile- 1:09.72)- As we complete the backstretch trip, Pericles is unable to maintain this pace, and for the moment Big Universe takes the lead, as he ends up being able to maintain it just a little longer. Rocky Mountain Hi is still with them, too, and even he at this point, seems to be clinging to the lead. The developing story would be who would be the quickest one behind them to make the move. In the turn, there were four of them who would move forward together, all needing to move to the outside, but not getting in each others way. Rainstorm, Demon, Serengeti Sands, and Traveling Band made up this group that were now within two lengths. Ranger seemed to be in decent shape, but probably needed to push forward when those four did. Brady Is A Lady, Blowberg, and Instagooglefacetweet were all moving to his outside. Further back, Apples To Oranges cut the gap to seven, but was just beginning to look for his lane at this stage.
(Top Of The Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- It would be Demon emerging as the leader now as the early pacesetters began to give way. Rainstorm also was looking sharp, showing his strong stretch kick, and these two were set to battle to the wire. Rocky Mountain Hi and Big Universe were still third and fourth for now, but were imminently about to lose those positions to Serengeti Sands and Traveling Band, each of whom were also looking good. Three lengths back, Ranger and Instagoodfacetweet were even with Brady Is A Lady between. Moving forward was Apples To Oranges, who had a good lane but still had four lengths to make up. While it looked like we would gain several positions, getting to front seemed to be a monumental task. Blowberg and Dreamscape were finding their lanes, though Salar de Uyuni was struggling a bit and probably not doing himself any favors to ultimately be one of Mb’s three KYD selections.
(Finish- 1:48.14)- With a furlong to go, Demon and Rainstorm were pulling away from the rest of the field, with the exception of Apples To Oranges, who was slicing through the field. Still, he had just under three lengths to still make up. Surely, the two front runners now were running well enough to hold him off, right? The way that Apples To Oranges exploded was stunning, and he does all that is needed to get up for the win. Also, Demon and Rainstorm also looked like they were each tiring close to the wire, as evidenced by the ground that Brady Is A Lady also made up in the closing strides. Ranger is fifth, as the rabbit strategy does not work out for Aer Stables, and now it may be that we don’t see him in the KYD at all. Dreamscape, Blowberg, and Instagooglefacetweet were all within three lengths. Rounding out the order is Traveling Band, Salar de Uyuni, Serengeti Sands, and the tiring pacesetters, Rocky Mountain Hi, Big Universe, and eventually, Pericles.
About The Winner- Apples To Oranges, trained by Mb Stables, and ridden to victory by E J Wilson, is a three old colt Slither, and out of El Gran Terra. He was bred in California by Night Mare Racing as a third quarter two year old, and acquired by Mb Stables when he was still unraced in private sales in July for $70.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his second in five starts, and his first stake win. His career earnings are now $548.400.
Track: Fast
Time: :453 1:093 1:35 1:48
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 6 – 1 Paid 380.30, 6 – 5 Paid 64.20
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 1 – 5 Paid 719.10, 6 – 5 – 1 Paid 719.10
Scratched: Crossing The Rubicon, Delaware Warrior
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
