The Wood Memorial – Grade II [KYD]
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $750.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st= Tko               Fractious                Saenz D

With only three lengths first to twelfth it is hard enough to try and work out this TC form but add on a two length turn round on the TAM Derby form and we have a situation where it is almost impossible to work through how these two winners today will fair in the KYD. What we can say about Tko is that with better draws in his last two starts he has won two of the major qualifiers for the KYD and can now have a decent break before the big race.

1st= Locamotive              Aer Stables                 McCarthy T

This one has also won two TC qualifiers in the Holy Bull and now this Wood Memorial but sandwiched in between he was beaten fairly and squarely by Tko in the TAM Derby. I believe it is all down to the draw and ultimately the type of pace a horse runs as to whether it wins as it is rare for form to run true with those two factors taken into account. This was a steadier pace that the TAM Derby and it allowed him to take his preferred position with very little early effort and that helped him to hold off the challengers later in the race.

3rd Dream State           Mb Stables             Lanerie C J

I guess most expected Smokin Luka to be the first Mb Stables horse home in this but this consistent performer flew from the back off a steady pace to run a very good third. As is usual with HRP his running style was switched a full 180 degrees today and that’s the joy of this being a computer game as good players like Mb Stables can do that to get the best out of their horses. He will need some more points to make the KYD field but as Mb Stables already has their three qualifiers i suspect this one will be aimed at the later TC races.

4th Creep Away          Arindel            Court J K

The stable has the magic touch at the moment and can even get a sprinter into a close fourth at this level from a rotten draw. Claimed for pennies at the end of last year there is clearly some good wins in this ones future to make that claim look even better.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES