Probables for Wood Memorial Day stakes announced

Probables for Wood Memorial Day stakes announced

A field of promising three-year-olds is taking shape for the $1 million

Twinspires.com Wood

Memorial (G1) on April 4 at Aqueduct, led by sensational juvenile Daredevil

(More Than Ready).

The 1 1/8-mile Wood, Aqueduct's prep for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 2,

also features a trio of graded stakes on its undercard: the $400,000 Carter H.

(G1), the $300,000 Gazelle (G2), and the $300,000 Bay Shore (G3).

Daredevil broke his maiden at first asking in September at Belmont Park

before capturing the Champagne (G1) in his second career start for trainer Todd

Pletcher. After finishing 11th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) to close out

his two-year-old campaign, the chestnut colt rounded back into form in his

sophomore debut, finishing second to Ready for Rye (City Zip) in the Swale (G2)

at Gulfstream Park.

Pletcher is also likely to saddle Withers (G3) winner Far From Over (Blame).

Far From Over overcame a disastrous start in the Withers to prevail by 1 3/4

lengths and remain undefeated.

The horse Far From Over defeated in the Withers, El Kabeir (Scat Daddy), is

also probable for the Wood. A John Terranova trainee, El Kabeir has participated

in all three local preps for the Wood, with his runner-up finish in the Withers

sandwiched between wins in the Jerome (G3) and Gotham (G3).

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is likely to have two entrants: Frosted (Tapit) and

either Classy Class (Discreetly Mine) or Ocean Knight (Curlin). Frosted has

spent the winter in Florida, where he finished second in the Holy Bull (G2) at

Gulfstream and fourth in the Fountain of Youth (G2). The colt is already

acquainted with the track and configuration of the Wood; as a two-year-old, the

Godolphin color-bearer finished second in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2).

Tencendur (Warrior's Reward) and Toasting Master (Congrats) are also probable

for the race, while Unrivaled (Super Saver) is under consideration for Team

Valor International.

The seven-furlong Carter for older runners is likely to feature a showdown

between The Big Beast (Yes It's True), Dads Caps (Discreet Cat), and Clearly Now

(Horse Greeley).

As a three-year-old in 2014, The Big Beast made a name for himself at

Saratoga, where he thrashed a first-level allowance field before taking the

King's Bishop (G1) by a neck. The Tony Dutrow trainee was forced to hit the

sidelines following the King's Bishop, but resurfaced on March 1 at Oaklawn

Park, promptly recovering his sophomore form with a 1 1/4-length allowance

zscore.

Last year's Carter winner, Dads Caps, has had the misfortune of facing

world-class sprinter Salutos Amigos (Salute the Sarge) on three separate

occasions this winter. In his past two starts, Dads Caps has finished second in

the Toboggan (G3) and Tom Fool H. (G3), both behind Salutos Amigos.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Clearly Now has not run since finishing eighth in the

Forego (G1) in late August at Saratoga. One start prior, he set a track record

at Belmont Park, blitzing seven furlongs in 1:19.96 in the Belmont Sprint

Championship (G3).

The winner of the General George H. (G3) on February 16 at Laurel, Misconnect

(Unbridled's Song), is also probable for the Carter, while multiple Grade 1

winner Palace (City Zip), Dream Saturday (Any Given Saturday), and Wild Dude

(Wildcat Heir) are possible.

Grade 1 winner Condo Commando (Tiz Wonderful) is likely to headline the 1

1/8-mile Gazelle, the local precursor to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1 at

Churchill Downs.

Condo Commando debuted in a $75,000 maiden claiming race last summer at the

Spa, which she won by 12 lengths. Jumping way up in class for her next start,

the Spinaway (G1), Condo Commando was equally dazzling, splashing home to a 13

1/4-length triumph over a waterlogged main track. After a fourth-place finish in

the Frizette (G1), the filly closed out her juvenile year with a win in the

Demoiselle (G2) at the Big A.

On February 22, Condo Commando made her three-year-old debut over Aqueduct's

inner track, taking the Busher by 4 3/4 lengths.

The third-place finisher from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Wonder

Gal (Tiz Wonderful), is probable for the Gazelle for trainer Leah Gyarmati. She

has not run since the Juvenile Fillies on November 1.

Also likely for the race are Noble and a Beauty (Noble Causeway), winner of

the six-furlong Cicada on March 15 at the Big A, and Money'soncharlotte (Mizzen

Mast). Jacaranda (Congrats), Puca (Big Brown), and Sweet Corine (Pulpit) are

possible.

A strong field is lining up for the seven-furlong Bay Shore for

three-year-old sprinters, led by Ready for Rye. Other talented sprinters

probable for the race include Ackeret (Mach Ride), Easy to Say (Eskendereya),

Lord Nelson (Pulpit) and Majestic Affair (Majesticperfection).

Additionally, trainer Mike Hushion and John Nerud are likely to team up with

Final Chapter (Thunder Gulch), a New York-bred who has won two straight at the

Big A.

El Deal *(Munnings) and Papa Upa (Kantharos) are also possible.

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