Wood Memorial

The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct takes place this Saturday, April 9^th at 5:48pm with ten horses entered into the race to compete for the $1,000,000 purse and entrance into the Kentucky Derby. It has been a long time since I have taken notice of this many headlines for a Kentucky Derby Prep race.

The headlines started back on March 17^th when the race had the purse amount increased to $1 Million and the race was renamed the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial thanks to a presenting sponsorship from Resorts World New York Casino. More recently, dominating the headlines is the outcome of the race and everyone on the planet selecting Uncle Mo to win the Wood Memorial and how he will likely be the first horse to enter the Kentucky Derby at less than a 2/1 favorite. Finally we get into the category of unique articles which I personally enjoy, each presenting a different view of the Wood Memorial with a little more substance than “I pick Uncle Mo to win”, you know what I mean. If you enjoy these articles as much as I do, be sure to read Brock Sheridan’s Uncle Mo And The Wood Memorial Curse on The Brock Talk.

With the Wood Memorial being renamed the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial it is clear that Resorts World New York Casino was first betting that Uncle Mo would make his way to Aqueduct to run in the Wood Memorial and secondly, betting that Uncle Mo would in fact win the Wood Memorial with hopes of winning the Kentucky Derby. Let’s face it, if it all plays out like this the sponsorship is money well spent.

Uncle Mo is already a 2/1 or 3/1 favorite depending on where you look and I do see him running away with Wood Memorial which will position him as a sub 2/1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby which will be the first time we have seen a favorite for the Derby on the morning line below 2/1 in over a decade. If you were going to bet Uncle Mo I would have told you back in November when he destroyed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile field to bet him in the futures at 6/1, obviously it’s too late for that but if you are still looking to bet Uncle Mo as a future wager to lock in a price on him, I would do it before the Wood Memorial on Saturday because I don’t think you will see even 2/1 again once the race is over!

Finally there is the Wood Memorial Curse. I am superstitious and I believe in curses, bad mojo, a jinx and everything else! I also know that both good luck and especially bad luck eventually come to an end and often when you least expect it. Trainer Mike Repole is on a winning streak with Uncle Mo and I tend to favor betting the winning streaks and hot hands until the streak ends, just like I bet against losing streaks until a team, player, horse or whatever I am betting on proves it can win.

Mike Repole has been dedicated to fulfilling his childhood dream of winning the Wood Memorial and training Uncle Mo to make a bid a winning the Triple Crown. Repole stated his intentions to have Uncle Mo search for Triple Crown glory publicly after the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile so this should be no surprise to anyone.

The Curse of the Wood Memorial was over the last decade, it’s been over a decade since we have had a sub 2/1 Kentucky Derby favorite. Numbers don’t lie! If/when Uncle Mo goes below 2/1, you will know who I am betting for the Kentucky Derby and hopefully a couple more races too.

Wood Memorial Race Information & Post Positions:

Saturday, Race 10
Grade I Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial
Aqueduct
Purse: $1,000,000
Distance: 1 1/8 Mile
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 5:48 ET

Owners: 1 – Parbhoo, Sherry; 2 – Cotter, Dianne, D.; 3 – Chatterpaul, Naipaul, Chatterpaul, Terikchand; 4 – Darley Stable; 5 – Repole Stable; 6 – Crossed Sabres Farm; 7 – Baker, Robert, C., Mack, William, L.; 8 – McClay, Thomas, G., Nye, Harry; 9 – Kharag Stables; 10 – Karma Stables

Breeders: 1 – Starship Stables & Laurence Leavy; 2 – Dianne D. Cotter; 3 – Tracy Egan; 4 – Stone Farm; 5 – D. Michael Cavey DVM; 6 – Jeffrey Tucker; 7 – Briland Farm, Robert Mitchell &Stacy Mitchell; 8 – Thomas G. McClay, Harry C. Nye III &Horseshoe Valley Equine; 9 – Diamond A Racing Corp.; 10 – Robert W. Sanford

Jack’s Wood Memorial Picks:

1. Uncle Mo
2. Norman Asbjornson
3. Toby’s Corner
4. Preachintothedevil

Cheers,

Jack