Musket Man possibly bound for Wood

MUSKET MAN (Yonaguska), recent winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) by a neck

over Join in the Dance (Sky Mesa), is under consideration for the April 4 Wood

Memorial S. (G1) at Aqueduct.

"He's nominated for the (April 4) Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne, but the

owners are all from New York, so we might have to look at the Wood Memorial,

too," trainer Derek Ryan said. "We just have to see how he comes out of it and

go from there."

Daniel Centano was aboard the colt in the Tampa Bay Derby, which was the

fourth win in five career starts for Musket Man. After breaking his maiden at

Belmont Park and taking an allowance at Philadelphia Park last fall, Musket Man

moved to Tampa Bay Downs where he captured the Pasco S. on January 17. He

endured his first loss when a distant third in the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) in his

two-turn debut.

"Daniel (Centeno) had been working him in the mornings, and he never worked

as well for anyone else," Ryan said. "The last two times, when Daniel pulled up

he told me, 'This horse works like a freak for me.' Usually when he works, when

he hits the eighth-pole he waits; I told Daniel that he had to get into him to

teach him that he has to go on. I'll definitely keep Danny on him now."