Aqueduct: Final New York Kentucky Derby Prep, Wood Analysis

The final Kentucky Derby prep on the New York circuit takes place Saturday. The Wood Memorial will be run at Aqueduct and offer at least 1 ticket to the Derby.

Wood Memorial Full Card Selections

Aqueduct- Race 1

Post: 12:15 PM ET; $28k Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 PATRICK THE GREAT (5-1) gets the top selection. He is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #1 DOWNTOWN CONNECTOR (2-1) should be competitive in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures.
• #5 UNION LIGHTS (9-5) could be in with a shot in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.
• #3 DEE'S SPEEDSTRE (6-1) is likely to hit the board in this spot. This one will look to be near the pace throughout the race and come flying into the stretch.

Selections: 6 – 1 – 5 – 3

Aqueduct- Race 2

Post: 12:50 PM ET; $70k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 11

• #4 STOLEN FUTURE (3-1) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. She makes sense on the debut speed figure. It won’t take much better to win here.
• #2 CERRETTA (8-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #6 LOON CRY (5-2) makes the second start in this spot and should be well prepared off the debut effort. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #9 AUTUMN (10-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Mcgaughey and Lezcano.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 6 – 9

Aqueduct- Race 3

Post: 1:27 PM ET; $250k Gazelle S. going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 6

• #6 SHIDABHUTI (7-2) looks best here. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #2 GAMBLING GIRL (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She looks to be the class of the field. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #4 PROMISEHER AMERICA (12-1) is a price horse and feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #5 OCCULT (2-1) isn't without hope. She should find the pace setup of this race very much to her liking.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 4 – 5

Aqueduct- Race 4

Post: 2:00 PM ET; $80k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 LET IT RIDE (4-5) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance. The debut effort alone would be good enough here.
• #1 AMERICAN HUSTLE (9-2) could be in with a shot in this race. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one goes out for the Clement barn and gets Davis in the irons.
• #3 TREATY OBLIGATION (3-1) runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Franco. The price is a bit short on this one despite being a likely competitor.
• #7 MISTICAL CURLIN (12-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 3 – 7

Aqueduct- Race 5

Post: 2:34 PM ET; $80k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 10

• #1A UTILIZATION RATE (8-5) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. She is definitely the stronger part of the entry.
• #7 SHE'S MO BUBBLY (7-2) makes some sense here. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #9 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (5-2) stacks up well enough here. She goes out for the Abreu barn and gets Franco in the irons. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #3 BILOXI BLUES (5-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Mcgaughey and Lezcano.

Selections: 1A- 7 – 9 – 3

Aqueduct- Race 6

Post: 3:09 PM ET; $200k Bay Shore S. going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #5 JOEY FRESHWATER (2-1) looks best here. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Rice and Carmouche. This one seems to fit well enough here. The price isn’t ideal but this one just looks the most likely winner.
• #4 DAYDREAMING BOY (8-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #7 PROVE RIGHT (6-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #3 VICTORY WAY (5-2) should improve off the first start and will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. A repeat of the debut effort should be enough to be competitive here.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 7 – 3

Aqueduct- Race 7

Post: 3:44 PM ET; $72k Allowance going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 10

• #1 NEW GINYA (9-5) gets the top selection. She shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #3 WATERVILLE (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. She seems to fit well enough here. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #5 SMOKIN' HOT KITTY (10-1) is a price horse and isn't without hope. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Rice and Lezcano. This one classes up with these well enough.
• #9 COLLABORATION (8-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 5 – 9

Aqueduct- Race 8

Post: 4:19 PM ET; $300k Carter H. Presented by NYRA Bets going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 REPO ROCKS (9-5) is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Ness and Wolfsont.
• #6 WHITE ABARRIO (2-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 7 furlong distance.
• #3 EXPRESSMAN (12-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. He should be part of the early pace in this spot. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #1 TODAY'S FLAVOR (6-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 4 – 6 – 3 – 1

Aqueduct- Race 9

Post: 4:59 PM ET; $82k Allowance going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 8

• #6 VERONICA GREENE (7-5) looks best here. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #2 EXPAND THE MAP (2-1) should be competitive in this spot. She has races that would win this race. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Franco.
• #4 CANDLE (7-2) could be in with a shot in this race. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one looks good for the combination of Mcgaughey and Lezcano.
• #8 KNOW IT ALL AUDREY (6-5) isn't without hope. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. The class makes this one dangerous, but others at the top of the market seem a bit stronger.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 4 – 8

Aqueduct- Race 10

Post: 5:38 PM ET; $70k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on turf; Entries: 12

• #5 STRICTLY TABOO (3-1) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. She is well bred for this spot. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #7 RED HOT CHICK (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #4 LAKESIDE GETAWAY (5-1) could be in with a shot in this race. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #8 GALATRONA (10-1) is a price horse that could be a good way to boost verticals.

Selections: 5 – 7 – 4 – 8

Aqueduct- Race 11

Post: 6:16 PM ET; $750k Wood Memorial S. Presented by Resorts World Casino going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 13

• #13 HIT SHOW (5-2) is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Franco. The wide draw is a bit concerning, but this field lacks world beaters.
• #7 ARCTIC ARROGANCE (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He could get the right setup in this race and at one time was seen as a real threat in this division.
• #2 SHADOW DRAGON (12-1) is a price horse and could be competitive in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures. This one comes into the race in really good form. Maybe he’s just getting good at the right time.
• #5 SLIP MAHONEY (6-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Davis.

Selections: 13- 7 – 2 – 5