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

Last year, Ride Or Die shocked the virtual racing world, winning the Wood Memorial at odds of 178/1 in what was the only chance he would have in a prep race to make it into the KYD. It was one of the better Cinderella stories of the season, and today’s trainers who might also just be taking a chance with a longer shot can simply look at him and realize that it can be done. This is a 100 point race, and horses in this field will look to shake up the current look of the KYD points leaderboard at this time. We have a full field of fourteen, so let’s look at our contenders!

#1- Rainstorm (Fractious, ridden by J Pimentel)- Burst onto the scene by finishing in a dead heat with Socotra Island (who will be on the undercard in the Bay Shore) at the Grade 2 San Vicente, and showed he could stretch it out even more when he placed third in the Gotham last month. That race represented a tactical change, and it worked out well for the trainer. He’s won half of the races he has been in, and has never finished out of the money. He has shown tremendous stretch desire, especially in the San Vicente, so expect to see that again. Currently has 10 KYD points, and is 32nd.

#2- Brady Is A Lady (Sharis Stables, ridden by L Saez)- Ran in the San Vicente two months ago as well, and ended up fourth; and later earned the same finishing position in the San Felipe. Now, the NY-bred returns to his home state, and a track where he has had some better results. He likes to come from behind, so that could be what to look for again unless the trainer tries to change things up. Has earned 5 KYD points thus far.

#3- Dreamscape (Joshua Stables, ridden by L Contreras)- Heading into the Grade 2 TAM Derby, everything seemed good with Dreamscape, and he was on a great form. That included winning the Grade 3 at GP, and allowing him to gain most of his 11 current KYD points. However, the TAM Derby was a disappointment, as he was never a threat, and that is simply unusual for him. Perhaps it can be attributed to something that the trainer is aware of, like meters, and there is nothing to worry about. A good run here will eliminate any concern from that race.

#4- Blowberg (Estero Farms, ridden by J K Court)- Has shown some potential in his last few races, such as when he finished 3rd here in the Grade 3 Withers back in February. However, last month, in the San Felipe, the trainer was not impressed with how he carried himself in the stretch, and that has cost him his ability to breed. The geld took place just last week, not sure if it was before or after a mile work that for him, was subpar. Let’s call him an X-factor; one with 2 KYD points.

#5- Demon (Joshua Stables, ridden by E S Prado)- One of two entries in the field for the trainer, and while Dreamscape seems to be the better option, Demon has earned his chance to run here as well. A few weeks ago, we saw him win the $100.000 Gander right here, which was the first time that he had run with bute. Prior to that, he struggled in the Holy Bull. Good to see the trainer’s past post draw bad luck has been balancing out here.

#6- Apples To Oranges (Mb Stables, ridden by E J Wilson)- Selfishly, I am a fan of the breeding on both sides of this one, and am glad to see Apples To Oranges developing into a good horse. Is he KYD caliber? That remains to be seen. He’s run just four times thus far, and for as good as he looked in the Holy Bull, placing second, he was a non factor in the Fountain Of Youth here last month. Which Apples To Oranges will show up here? If it’s the good one, he will then become part of the trainer’s tough decision when faced with not real life-like decision of needing to slice his KYD entries down to three. Presently has four points.

#7- Serengeti Sands (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by K Carmouche)- This is presently the top hope for the trainer to get in the KYD, but the 10 points he has right now only gets him 35th on the leaderboard. He was stronger earlier in his career, but his last two races, the Holy Bull and the Fountain Of Youth have seen him finishes close to the back of the field. Perhaps a tactical adjustment will be in store here, and he will be a better contender.

#8- Rocky Mountain Hi (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M Franco)- We know that trainer would love to pick up a big win here at the Big A, and he has done this in the past, when Port On The Horizon won in 2015. Rocky Mountain Hi showed his potential by running second in the Grade 2 Swale a couple months ago, but has not been as good when running against the best horses in the division. Was ninth last month here in the Gotham.

#9- Ranger (Aer Stables, ridden by D E Centeno)- A win here, and Ranger will re-establish himself as the biggest threat to Beach Dandy for the KYD next month. He’s won three of six, and has never finished outside of the exacta. The Grade 3 Davis Stakes is his signature win to this point, so this would be a good victory to add to that. He has not worked publicly since the end of February, so we cannot see how those times have been progressing. I’ll give him the nod here, because I have always been high on this one. With 30 points, he’ll be in the KYD, but he can do so much more.

#10- Traveling Band (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by E Jaramillo)- Took this one a while to break his maiden, and because of that some time was lost in the TC chase. He has not really proven himself going long quite yet, but has fared well at shorter distances, and won his most recent start, the $50.000 Animal Kingdom Stakes. If there’s a Ride Or Die in here this year, this is the one.

#11- Salar de Uyuni (Mb Stables, ridden by P Husbands)- The winner of the Gotham last month returns to the scene of the victory and should only like that this distance is a little longer. That win got him 50 points and a comfortable spot on the leaderboard in 8th place. If he was in anyone else’s barn, he is a lock. Unfortunately, due to arbitrary rules that are not virtual realism, which keep trainers limited to three entries in the KYD, we might be robbed of Salar de Uyuni in the KYD despite these talents. He has to prove himself worthy to be one of those three, so this race is important for him. Otherwise, it’s probably the PRK.

#12- Instagooglefacetweet (John Henry, ridden by F Prat)- Mister social media continues his efforts at this level, but still you can make a youtube video about the fact that he only has one win in ten starts. Did not look good in snapchat photos from the Grade 2 Rebel in his last start, where he placed ninth. I can’t click like on him now, but maybe if he were to win I’ll proudly share in his triumph.

#13- Pericles (Aer Stables, ridden by A Bocachia)- Did not fare well when up against Salar de Uyuni, Rainstorm, and others in the Gotham, and would even be one of the few that could not catch up to the tiring pacesetter, Socotra Island. He was better in his prior race, the $100.00 Allison Derby, defeating the social media star that is to his inside here en route to the win. This isn’t the Allison Derby, so he needs to make the most of his second chance.

#14- Big Universe (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by A R Rodriguez)- Quietly on the outside, we have a pretty good contender here in Big Universe. He ran third in the Holy Bull, and then fourth in the Fountain Of Youth, the latter of which saw him start from post 11. This race will see the difficulty of winning from the outside post, but at least he has been used to it as of late. So far, he has 7 KYD points, and is 41st on the leaderboard.

Prediction: 9-1-11-3

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES