The 2023 Blue Grass Stakes happens on April 8 at Keeneland! The Grade 1 race offers some of the best prizes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, including a $1 million purse as well as 100-40-30-20-10 Derby points to the top five finishers. It is the more important of two points races during April’s meet at Keeneland.
The race drew a competitive field of 11 to contest for those spoils. They include impressive prep winners like Tapit Trice and Raise Cain, Grade 1-winning juvenile Blazing Sevens, and even some newer faces like Mendelssohns March and Major Blue.
Nineteen Kentucky Derby winners have used the Blue Grass as a prep for victory in the Kentucky Derby, including 10 who won both races. Though the last Kentucky Derby winner who prepared in the Blue Grass was Street Sense (2007), Blue Grass winners have run well in recent years. Zandon (2022) finished third in the Run for the Roses, and Essential Quality (2021) finished a close fourth. And, though Art Collector (2020) bypassed the Derby completely, he has stayed good and won the Pegasus World Cup (G1) in 2023!
Track: Keeneland
Post Time: 5:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Age/Sex: Three-year-olds
Where to Watch: FanDuel TV
Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing
Four others come out of Road to the Kentucky Derby points races. Scoobie Quando was most recently second in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway; he scratched out of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and turns up here instead. The other three were also-rans in their respective preps: Verifying was fourth in the Rebel (G2), Sun Thunder fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2), and Blazing Sevens eighth in the Fountain of Youth (G2).
The other three runners come out of wins in non-point races. Hayes Strike won the Private Terms at Laurel last out, while Major Blue and Mendelssohns March both won allowances at Oaklawn last out.
Tapit Trice: He was defeated on debut in November, but has won his last three, including the Tampa Bay Derby, where he started slowly but got rolling well in the lane. The fence in a field this big isn’t great, but as a versatile runner, he should be able to carve a trip from wherever Luis Saez can put him. He may be an underlay on the tote board, though he shapes a contender, and it’s a smart move by Todd Pletcher to give him one more race before the Derby.
Clear the Air: He broke his maiden on the Tapeta at Turfway back in January, but was well beaten in his only points-race try in the Gotham last month. It’s a good thing that he overcame some trouble and was passing horses, but the fact remains that he has to turn the tables on Raise Cain (and on Scoobie Quando, who beat him in an allowance two back), and prove himself on dirt. It’s a tough place for him to find a career-best, especially since 1 1/8 miles could be beyond the stamina of his pedigree.
Verifying: His tactical speed is a plus, but there are a lot of questions. He seems to do his best work fresh off a layoff, and here he comes in for his third start of the cycle, after finishing fourth in the Rebel. Sure, he ran into a bit of traffic, but he didn’t find a real finishing kick. That said, he gets a fast track this time, and his pedigree does suggest he can mature with time and distance. In short, signals are mixed, so demand a price.
Classic Car Wash: He has been versatile, running well from the lead, a stalking spot, or even from well off the pace after some early trouble last out in the Tampa Bay Derby. That should give him options in this big field. He needs to take a step forward to beat the top end of this field, including Tapit Trice, who beat him last out. But, it would be no surprise to see him grab another piece underneath if he can build on his last-out race.
Hayes Strike: With nine starts, he is the most experienced in the field. However, he has class to prove. He grabbed some minor shares in points races last year, but in his last two starts he has faced lesser company. He did get a confidence builder in the Private Terms last out and rediscovered a nice, tactical style. Still, that was with Lasix (something he takes away this time), and he needs to not regress from that notable best effort first off a two-month break.
Scoobie Quando: After three solid starts on Tapeta, he tries the dirt for the first time in the Blue Grass. He had entered in the Jeff Ruby but scratched due to what his trainer called a minor issue, so it remains to be seen how he came back from that. He does have strong stamina breeding, though, and some tactical versatility, so if he handles the dirt, he had a chance to step forward in this spot.
Sun Thunder: A close second in the Risen Star two back, he was a well-beaten fifth behind Kingsbarns in the Louisiana Derby next out. The cut back in trip from that race to the 1 1/8 miles is a point in his favor, though the pace does not look like it will be as fiery this time around as it was in the Risen Star, meaning this confirmed closer will not get as good a setup as he did that time.
Blazing Sevens: One of the better juveniles of last year, he disappointed in the Fountain of Youth last out though perhaps the poor start and the layoff both had something to do with the poor performance. The blinkers-on is an interesting move: not only is that a good move for trainer Chad Brown in general, but he showed tactical speed in his maiden-breaker, suggesting he may be able to tap into that again with the new headgear. He also gets a switch to big-race mainstay Irad Ortiz.
Major Blue: He has a lot of class to prove since he makes his stakes debut in the Blue Grass. However, without a lot of early pace in the race, he is likely to be the horse who dictates terms, especially after setting the pace in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint allowance last out. That said, he needs a massive step forward to be competitive against this company, and 1 ⅛ miles may test his stamina.
Raise Cain: He won the Gotham like a good thing despite his 23-1 odds, rallying from near last and overcoming some trouble a quarter-mile from the finish to win by 7 1/2 lengths. He does not have to drop out that far, however, as suggested in previous starts. That ability to overcome trouble is a positive with this big field and this wide gate, and his pedigree appeals for the nine-furlong trip. If he can run back to that last-out effort over a dry track, something his Gun Runner effort suggests he may do, he figures.
Mendelssohns March: The least-experienced horse in the field, he comes out of a 1 1/2-length win in a sloppy route allowance at Oaklawn. His pedigree suggests that he’ll get nine furlongs and more, and he has been able to turn in good efforts from both on and off the pace, a positive, especially from this wide gate. However, he needs to take a sharp step forward against this better company.
The race drew a competitive field of 11 to contest for those spoils. They include impressive prep winners like Tapit Trice and Raise Cain, Grade 1-winning juvenile Blazing Sevens, and even some newer faces like Mendelssohns March and Major Blue.
Nineteen Kentucky Derby winners have used the Blue Grass as a prep for victory in the Kentucky Derby, including 10 who won both races. Though the last Kentucky Derby winner who prepared in the Blue Grass was Street Sense (2007), Blue Grass winners have run well in recent years. Zandon (2022) finished third in the Run for the Roses, and Essential Quality (2021) finished a close fourth. And, though Art Collector (2020) bypassed the Derby completely, he has stayed good and won the Pegasus World Cup (G1) in 2023!
Blue Grass Stakes 2023 Information
Race Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023Track: Keeneland
Post Time: 5:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Age/Sex: Three-year-olds
Where to Watch: FanDuel TV
Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing
Blue Grass Stakes Odds
This is the official field for the 2023 Blue Grass. It is organized by post position and also includes trainers, jockeys, and the morning-line odds set by Keeneland.| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
| 1 | Tapit Trice | Todd Pletcher | Luis Saez | 5-2 |
| 2 | Clear the Air | William Walden | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 30-1 |
| 3 | Verifying | Brad Cox | Tyler Gaffalione | 3-1 |
| 4 | Classic Car Wash | Mark Casse | Javier Castellano | 12-1 |
| 5 | Hayes Strike | Kenny McPeek | James Graham | 15-1 |
| 6 | Scoobie Quando | Ben Colebrook | Luan Machado | 15-1 |
| 7 | Sun Thunder | Kenny McPeek | Florent Geroux | 10-1 |
| 8 | Blazing Sevens | Chad Brown | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 6-1 |
| 9 | Major Blue | D. Wayne Lukas | David Cabrera | 30-1 |
| 10 | Raise Cain | Ben Colebrook | Joel Rosario | 9-2 |
| 11 | Mendelssohns March | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | 20-1 |
Blue Grass Stakes Prep Results
As often happens at a short, premier meets like Keeneland, the horses in the Blue Grass ran all over the eastern half of the country before coming to the race. All eyes will be on the 1-2 finishers in the Tampa Bay Derby, Tapit Trice, and Classic Car Wash. Two horses also come out of the Gotham: Raise Cain won impressively, while Clear the Air tries to rebound from a fifth-place finish.Four others come out of Road to the Kentucky Derby points races. Scoobie Quando was most recently second in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway; he scratched out of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and turns up here instead. The other three were also-rans in their respective preps: Verifying was fourth in the Rebel (G2), Sun Thunder fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2), and Blazing Sevens eighth in the Fountain of Youth (G2).
The other three runners come out of wins in non-point races. Hayes Strike won the Private Terms at Laurel last out, while Major Blue and Mendelssohns March both won allowances at Oaklawn last out.
Blue Grass Stakes Contenders
These are the contenders in the 2023 Blue Grass Stakes, organized by post position:Tapit Trice: He was defeated on debut in November, but has won his last three, including the Tampa Bay Derby, where he started slowly but got rolling well in the lane. The fence in a field this big isn’t great, but as a versatile runner, he should be able to carve a trip from wherever Luis Saez can put him. He may be an underlay on the tote board, though he shapes a contender, and it’s a smart move by Todd Pletcher to give him one more race before the Derby.
Clear the Air: He broke his maiden on the Tapeta at Turfway back in January, but was well beaten in his only points-race try in the Gotham last month. It’s a good thing that he overcame some trouble and was passing horses, but the fact remains that he has to turn the tables on Raise Cain (and on Scoobie Quando, who beat him in an allowance two back), and prove himself on dirt. It’s a tough place for him to find a career-best, especially since 1 1/8 miles could be beyond the stamina of his pedigree.
Verifying: His tactical speed is a plus, but there are a lot of questions. He seems to do his best work fresh off a layoff, and here he comes in for his third start of the cycle, after finishing fourth in the Rebel. Sure, he ran into a bit of traffic, but he didn’t find a real finishing kick. That said, he gets a fast track this time, and his pedigree does suggest he can mature with time and distance. In short, signals are mixed, so demand a price.
Classic Car Wash: He has been versatile, running well from the lead, a stalking spot, or even from well off the pace after some early trouble last out in the Tampa Bay Derby. That should give him options in this big field. He needs to take a step forward to beat the top end of this field, including Tapit Trice, who beat him last out. But, it would be no surprise to see him grab another piece underneath if he can build on his last-out race.
Hayes Strike: With nine starts, he is the most experienced in the field. However, he has class to prove. He grabbed some minor shares in points races last year, but in his last two starts he has faced lesser company. He did get a confidence builder in the Private Terms last out and rediscovered a nice, tactical style. Still, that was with Lasix (something he takes away this time), and he needs to not regress from that notable best effort first off a two-month break.
Scoobie Quando: After three solid starts on Tapeta, he tries the dirt for the first time in the Blue Grass. He had entered in the Jeff Ruby but scratched due to what his trainer called a minor issue, so it remains to be seen how he came back from that. He does have strong stamina breeding, though, and some tactical versatility, so if he handles the dirt, he had a chance to step forward in this spot.
Sun Thunder: A close second in the Risen Star two back, he was a well-beaten fifth behind Kingsbarns in the Louisiana Derby next out. The cut back in trip from that race to the 1 1/8 miles is a point in his favor, though the pace does not look like it will be as fiery this time around as it was in the Risen Star, meaning this confirmed closer will not get as good a setup as he did that time.
Blazing Sevens: One of the better juveniles of last year, he disappointed in the Fountain of Youth last out though perhaps the poor start and the layoff both had something to do with the poor performance. The blinkers-on is an interesting move: not only is that a good move for trainer Chad Brown in general, but he showed tactical speed in his maiden-breaker, suggesting he may be able to tap into that again with the new headgear. He also gets a switch to big-race mainstay Irad Ortiz.
Major Blue: He has a lot of class to prove since he makes his stakes debut in the Blue Grass. However, without a lot of early pace in the race, he is likely to be the horse who dictates terms, especially after setting the pace in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint allowance last out. That said, he needs a massive step forward to be competitive against this company, and 1 ⅛ miles may test his stamina.
Raise Cain: He won the Gotham like a good thing despite his 23-1 odds, rallying from near last and overcoming some trouble a quarter-mile from the finish to win by 7 1/2 lengths. He does not have to drop out that far, however, as suggested in previous starts. That ability to overcome trouble is a positive with this big field and this wide gate, and his pedigree appeals for the nine-furlong trip. If he can run back to that last-out effort over a dry track, something his Gun Runner effort suggests he may do, he figures.
Mendelssohns March: The least-experienced horse in the field, he comes out of a 1 1/2-length win in a sloppy route allowance at Oaklawn. His pedigree suggests that he’ll get nine furlongs and more, and he has been able to turn in good efforts from both on and off the pace, a positive, especially from this wide gate. However, he needs to take a sharp step forward against this better company.
Santa Anita Oaks 2023 Information
Race Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023Track: Santa Anita Park
Post Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
Distance: 1 1/16 miles
Age/Sex: three-year-old fillies
Where to Watch: FanDuel TV
Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing
Santa Anita Oaks Odds
These are the horses who entered the 2023 Santa Anita Oaks in order of post positions, along with their trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds.| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | ML Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venganza | Richard Mandella | Mike Smith | 12-1 |
| 2 | Gila | Steve Knapp | Armando Aguilar | 30-1 |
| 3 | Clearly Unhinged | Michael McCarthy | Juan Hernandez | 4-1 |
| 4 | Cliquish | Phil D'Amato | Umberto Rispoli | 20-1 |
| 5 | Faiza | Bob Baffert | Flavien Prat | 9-5 |
| 6 | Window Shopping | Richard Mandella | Hector Berrios | 4-1 |
| 7 | Princess Bettina | Peter Eurton | Frankie Dettori | 5-1 |
| 8 | And Tell Me Nolies | Peter Miller | Ramon Vazquez | 4-1 |
| 9 | Don't Get Pickled | Lorenzo Campuzano | Geovanni Franco | 30-1 |
Santa Anita Oaks Prep Results
The nine runners in the Santa Anita Oaks come out of eight different races. The only race that sends more than one runner directly into the Santa Anita Oaks is the traditional local prep, the Santa Ysabel (G3). Faiza and And Tell Me Nolies, the first two horses across the wire, return here.The only other horse who comes out of a points race is outside-drawn Don’t Get Pickled, who finished third in the Sunland Park Oaks. The one other entrant who is coming out of a stakes race is Princess Bettina, who won the China Doll at a mile on the Santa Anita lawn last out.
The other five runners come out of maiden victories at Santa Anita. Clearly Unhinged is the only one of the group who comes out of a straight maiden special win that was originally intended for dirt; she won on debut going 6 1/2 furlongs. Venganza and Window Shopping both won off-turf maiden special weights. Cliquish won a maiden/optional claiming race, while Gila graduated in a $30,000 maiden claimer last out.
Santa Anita Oaks Contenders
These are the 2023 Santa Anita Oaks entrants, organized by post position:Venganza: By Curlin out of a War Front mare, she was entered to debut in a six-furlong turf race on March 11. The race was washed off the dirt, it scratched down to a field of just two, but Venganza led at every call and won by 4 1/4 lengths. Her dam Avenge was a graded-stakes quality turf router while sire Curlin was well proven on dirt; both sides of her family support stamina, though, so the step up in trip suits. However, she will have to either show some tactical speed or fight for the lead inside.
Gila: She has raced five times, and it took her a drop to claiming company before she finally got off the mark last month. Her race record suggests that she is one-way speed, meaning she’ll have several other foes to deal with early. All of her races have come back slow relative to her company in this, as well, meaning she’s jumping into the deep end here.
Clearly Unhinged: In a race with five last-out maiden winners, she is the only one who graduated in a straight maiden that was originally carded for the dirt. She led at every call, though she handled some prompting early before opening up late. Her pedigree suggests that she should be able to stretch out to two turns, and trainer Michael McCarthy does well with first-time routers as well. The biggest concern is all the other speed in the race.
Cliquish: She was well beaten by Clearly Unhinged on debut, but came back to graduate by nine lengths in a maiden-optional claimer on March 5 despite stumbling a little early. This is a far tougher group, and she will have to improve significantly. However, in a race with so much speed, she has shown she can pass horses, and both her pedigree and her trainer’s record first-time route suggest that she will move forward with more ground.
Faiza: Undefeated in four starts, she has won three graded stakes races in Southern California stretching back to last year. She cannot qualify for the Kentucky Oaks because Bob Baffert is still banned from Churchill Downs, but she has been well-primed and well-spotted in these two-turn dirt stakes. She is tactical enough to either press the pace or lay a couple of lengths off the pace, and she shapes as the horse to beat.
Window Shopping: She was well beaten on debut in a turf mile after some trip trouble, but she came back to dominate an off-turf mile on March 17 by sixteen lengths. She showed in that race that she could set off the pace and open up, and that she handled dirt well: no surprise, as she is by American Pharoah out of a Tapit mare. This is a class rise, but the extra sixteenth of a mile (or even more later) should suit perfectly.
Princess Bettina: She has found success on the grass in her last five starts, but switches back to the dirt for this. On the one hand, she was well beaten in both of her dirt tries last year. On the other hand, both of those were in sprints, her form has been far better in two-turn races, and her tactical versatility is a help. Furthermore, her pedigree suggests that dirt should suit her fine, and she is a better horse now with some maturity.
And Tell Me Nolies: She rattled off three straight victories last year on the West Coast, including wins in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and the Chandelier (G2). She was well beaten in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, though her first start back was a credible second to Faiza in the Santa Ysabel. She has to face that foe again, but last year she needed a start off the bench, and if she also improves second-up this time, then she has a win chance this time.
Don’t Get Pickled: She is one of only three horses who comes out of a points prep, but this is a deeper field than the Sunland Park Oaks, and she basically clunked and finished third by default. Her last two races have shown she has some talent at two turns, and she did not drop that far back two back in the Arizona Oaks, but this is a far tougher group than she faced in any of her races to date, and she has yet to run a race that makes her look like a threat in this.
The 2023 Wood Memorial (G2) is the final race of Aqueduct’s road to the Kentucky Derby, and will be run on Saturday, April 8. It covers 1 1/8 miles over the dirt, and offers both a $750,000 purse and 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby points to its first five finishers. This means the winner certainly makes the Derby field, the second-place finisher probably does as well, and the next three across the wire might if they have done well in other preps as well.
The 2023 edition of the Wood drew a large field: 13 horses, including a mix of well-known stakes stars and newer faces. Leading candidates include Withers (G3) winner Hit Show, multiple stakes-placed Arctic Arrogance, Holy Bull (G3) second-place finisher Shadow Dragon, and the improving Classic Catch.
Though no Wood winner has won the Kentucky Derby since Fusaichi Pegasus (2000), other major winners of the race who have gone on to win the roses include Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox (1930), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), and Seattle Slew (1977). More recently, Wood winners have done well in races further down the line: Mo Donegal (2022) won the Belmont (G1), Vino Rosso (2018) won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) the following year, and even Tacitus (2019) was third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont.
Track: Aqueduct Racetrack
Post Time: 6:16 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Age/Sex: three-year-olds
Where to Watch: FanDuel TV
Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing
Six of the thirteen Wood entrants last raced in one of the points races at Aqueduct. Though Gotham (G3) winner Raise Cain opts for the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland instead, four other horses who most recently ran in the Gotham have turned up in the field for the Wood: second-place Slip Mahoney, third-place General Banker, fifth-place Clear the Air, and sixth-place Mr. Swagger. Two others last contested the Withers (G3): Hits Show, who won it impressively, and Arctic Arrogance, who chased home in second.
Three other runners come out of different Kentucky Derby points preps, though all were also-rans. Shadow Dragon was fifth in the Fountain of Youth (G2) last out, Lord Miles was fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), and Crupi was seventh in the Risen Star (G2).
The other four entrants to the Wood come from non-stakes races. Classic Catch won a first-level allowance at Gulfstream, Knox was second in a $50,000 starter-optional at Gulfstream, Uncle Jake won a maiden special weight at Laurel, and Dreamlike was second in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream.
Dreamlike: The only maiden in the race, he has been well bet in both his starts and came close last out, but is not over the mark yet. The good news is that he has been running fast enough to be a factor in this, and trainer Todd Pletcher both does well in the Wood and does well blinkers-off. But he is a likely short-priced maiden against winners, and he has to break from the rail in a huge field.
Shadow Dragon: He ran a good second in the Holy Bull two starts back, closing into a reasonable pace, though he did not run back to that next out in the Fountain of Youth against a tougher field. This is a class drop compared to that group, though his pedigree raises some questions about how much he is going to want to stretch out to this nine-furlong trip.
Knox: He hasn’t won since his debut in a maiden special weight last June, and was well beaten in his only open stakes try to date. He rallied for second last out in a sprint at Gulfstream, but he was in for a $50,000 tag and running against inferior company to this. In short, he needs to take a big step forward against the toughest field he has ever seen, and his pedigree is a bit more appealing for sprints and miles than this longer trip.
General Banker: With eleven starts already he is the most experienced runner, and he has picked up well-beaten third-place finishes in the last three points races at Aqueduct. That includes finishing third eleven lengths behind Hit Show in the Withers over this same course and distance. However, this is a deeper field over a fast course, and his only win so far came in a sloppy sprint. All in all, he just might not be good enough to clunk on for another piece by default.
Slip Mahoney: Though he was no match for Raise Cain in the Gotham last out, looking back at his previous races suggests that he can get a better, more tactical trip with a better start, instead of closing from so far back like he did last out. He has the pedigree to stretch out to the 1 1/8-mile distance, and his form in the maiden ranks suggests that he can bounce back and run a race that makes him a real contender in this.
Clear the Air: He has shown his best form by far at Turfway over the Tapeta, breaking his maiden second-out in a sprint and running fourth in an allowance after a bad trip. However, his dirt form has not been quite as good. It may be muddled, as he didn’t have the best trip in the Gotham last out and still ran on for fifth, only 2 1/2 lengths out of second place behind runaway winner Raise Cain. But, he still needs more against this deeper field, and his pedigree suggests he might not want the 1 1/8 miles of the Wood.
Arctic Arrogance: He has been the perpetual second-place finisher on the Aqueduct spur of the Derby trail: he has never been worse than second in six starts, but his two wins came against New York-bred company, and three of those seconds came in the Remsen (G2), Jerome, and Withers. He drew well, and he has a good pressing gear, something that could help him get a trip. And, his pedigree makes the stretch out interesting. Definitely use him on exotics, though demand a price on top.
Lord Miles: He won on debut in a sprint at Gulfstream back in November, and looked promising with a third in the Mucho Macho Man. But, a step up to Derby trail company has been too much so far, as he ran off the board after chasing midfield in both the Holy Bull and the Tampa Bay Derby. Unlike some in this field, his pedigree interests at this longer distance, though, and he will be a price for exotics.
Crupi: This Todd Pletcher trainee, like Dreamlike, is still a maiden, though he has more experience. He came close two back, missing by a head to Slip Mahoney; three back, he was also second to Classic Catch. It was enough for Pletcher to try him in the Risen Star, where he broke slowly and improved mildly after a very hot pace in front of him. He is going to be overbet because Todd Pletcher trains him, and so far, his form suggests a lack of maturity.
Uncle Jake: He has raced just twice: on debut, he was well beaten by Geaux Rocket Ride, a live Santa Anita Derby competitor, though he romped second-out at Laurel after a switch to the Brittany Russell barn for Derby eligibility reasons. (He had been trained by Bob Baffert.) His speed could get him a good trip in this race if he can reprise it, and he has a good pedigree for the step up in trip, though demand a price on the sharp class rise.
Classic Catch: He makes his stakes debut for trainer Todd Pletcher. However, he is one of the few in the field who has won at 1 1/8 miles: in fact, he has won over that distance twice, including once at Aqueduct when he broke his maiden last November. He has the tactical speed to carve out a good trip, as well. The biggest drawback is the post, as he is mired toward the outside and it may be tough not to lose ground, a concern since he does have to take a step forward against this tougher company.
Mr. Swagger: He only has two starts, so he cedes experience to the rest of the field here. He graduated on debut over fast local dirt, and should prefer that to the t conditions he dealt with when well beaten in the Gotham last out. However, Maclean’s Music on top raises some questions about how much he is going to want to stretch out to this distance, and his post is a recipe for ground loss.
Hit Show: He won the Withers over this course and distance, making him a deserving favorite in this race. His tracking style means he has some options to find the best place to drop in, though he will probably have to deal with some ground loss, at least, from this far-outside post. If he can run back to that victory in the Withers, he is a win candidate, though, and if he moves forward, he becomes particularly formidable.
The 2023 edition of the Wood drew a large field: 13 horses, including a mix of well-known stakes stars and newer faces. Leading candidates include Withers (G3) winner Hit Show, multiple stakes-placed Arctic Arrogance, Holy Bull (G3) second-place finisher Shadow Dragon, and the improving Classic Catch.
Though no Wood winner has won the Kentucky Derby since Fusaichi Pegasus (2000), other major winners of the race who have gone on to win the roses include Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox (1930), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), and Seattle Slew (1977). More recently, Wood winners have done well in races further down the line: Mo Donegal (2022) won the Belmont (G1), Vino Rosso (2018) won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) the following year, and even Tacitus (2019) was third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont.
Wood Memorial 2023 Information
Race Date: Saturday, April 8, 2023Track: Aqueduct Racetrack
Post Time: 6:16 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Age/Sex: three-year-olds
Where to Watch: FanDuel TV
Where to Bet: TVG.com and FanDuel Racing
Wood Memorial Odds
This is the field for the 2023 Wood Memorial, including post positions, trainers, jockey, and morning-line odds for each runner.| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | ML Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dreamlike | Todd Pletcher | Jose Ortiz | 7-2 |
| 2 | Shadow Dragon | Bill Mott | Eric Cancel | 12-1 |
| 3 | Knox | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Jose Gomez | 50-1 |
| 4 | General Banker | James Ferraro | Frankie Pennington | 20-1 |
| 5 | Slip Mahoney | Brad Cox | Dylan Davis | 6-1 |
| 6 | Clear the Air | William Walden | Heman Harkie | 15-1 |
| 7 | Arctic Arrogance | Linda Rice | Jose Lezcano | 6-1 |
| 8 | Lord Miles | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Paco Lopez | 30-1 |
| 9 | Crupi | Todd Pletcher | Kendrick Carmouche | 12-1 |
| 10 | Uncle Jake | Brittany Russell | Jevian Toledo | 20-1 |
| 11 | Classic Catch | Todd Pletcher | Trevor McCarthy | 10-1 |
| 12 | Mr. Swagger | Juan Avila | Carlos Olivero | 30-1 |
| 13 | Hit Show | Brad Cox | Manuel Franco | 5-2 |
Wood Memorial Prep Results
Six of the thirteen Wood entrants last raced in one of the points races at Aqueduct. Though Gotham (G3) winner Raise Cain opts for the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland instead, four other horses who most recently ran in the Gotham have turned up in the field for the Wood: second-place Slip Mahoney, third-place General Banker, fifth-place Clear the Air, and sixth-place Mr. Swagger. Two others last contested the Withers (G3): Hits Show, who won it impressively, and Arctic Arrogance, who chased home in second.Three other runners come out of different Kentucky Derby points preps, though all were also-rans. Shadow Dragon was fifth in the Fountain of Youth (G2) last out, Lord Miles was fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), and Crupi was seventh in the Risen Star (G2).
The other four entrants to the Wood come from non-stakes races. Classic Catch won a first-level allowance at Gulfstream, Knox was second in a $50,000 starter-optional at Gulfstream, Uncle Jake won a maiden special weight at Laurel, and Dreamlike was second in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream.
Wood Memorial Contenders
These are the entrants in the 2023 Wood Memorial, in order of post position:Dreamlike: The only maiden in the race, he has been well bet in both his starts and came close last out, but is not over the mark yet. The good news is that he has been running fast enough to be a factor in this, and trainer Todd Pletcher both does well in the Wood and does well blinkers-off. But he is a likely short-priced maiden against winners, and he has to break from the rail in a huge field.
Shadow Dragon: He ran a good second in the Holy Bull two starts back, closing into a reasonable pace, though he did not run back to that next out in the Fountain of Youth against a tougher field. This is a class drop compared to that group, though his pedigree raises some questions about how much he is going to want to stretch out to this nine-furlong trip.
Knox: He hasn’t won since his debut in a maiden special weight last June, and was well beaten in his only open stakes try to date. He rallied for second last out in a sprint at Gulfstream, but he was in for a $50,000 tag and running against inferior company to this. In short, he needs to take a big step forward against the toughest field he has ever seen, and his pedigree is a bit more appealing for sprints and miles than this longer trip.
General Banker: With eleven starts already he is the most experienced runner, and he has picked up well-beaten third-place finishes in the last three points races at Aqueduct. That includes finishing third eleven lengths behind Hit Show in the Withers over this same course and distance. However, this is a deeper field over a fast course, and his only win so far came in a sloppy sprint. All in all, he just might not be good enough to clunk on for another piece by default.
Slip Mahoney: Though he was no match for Raise Cain in the Gotham last out, looking back at his previous races suggests that he can get a better, more tactical trip with a better start, instead of closing from so far back like he did last out. He has the pedigree to stretch out to the 1 1/8-mile distance, and his form in the maiden ranks suggests that he can bounce back and run a race that makes him a real contender in this.
Clear the Air: He has shown his best form by far at Turfway over the Tapeta, breaking his maiden second-out in a sprint and running fourth in an allowance after a bad trip. However, his dirt form has not been quite as good. It may be muddled, as he didn’t have the best trip in the Gotham last out and still ran on for fifth, only 2 1/2 lengths out of second place behind runaway winner Raise Cain. But, he still needs more against this deeper field, and his pedigree suggests he might not want the 1 1/8 miles of the Wood.
Arctic Arrogance: He has been the perpetual second-place finisher on the Aqueduct spur of the Derby trail: he has never been worse than second in six starts, but his two wins came against New York-bred company, and three of those seconds came in the Remsen (G2), Jerome, and Withers. He drew well, and he has a good pressing gear, something that could help him get a trip. And, his pedigree makes the stretch out interesting. Definitely use him on exotics, though demand a price on top.
Lord Miles: He won on debut in a sprint at Gulfstream back in November, and looked promising with a third in the Mucho Macho Man. But, a step up to Derby trail company has been too much so far, as he ran off the board after chasing midfield in both the Holy Bull and the Tampa Bay Derby. Unlike some in this field, his pedigree interests at this longer distance, though, and he will be a price for exotics.
Crupi: This Todd Pletcher trainee, like Dreamlike, is still a maiden, though he has more experience. He came close two back, missing by a head to Slip Mahoney; three back, he was also second to Classic Catch. It was enough for Pletcher to try him in the Risen Star, where he broke slowly and improved mildly after a very hot pace in front of him. He is going to be overbet because Todd Pletcher trains him, and so far, his form suggests a lack of maturity.
Uncle Jake: He has raced just twice: on debut, he was well beaten by Geaux Rocket Ride, a live Santa Anita Derby competitor, though he romped second-out at Laurel after a switch to the Brittany Russell barn for Derby eligibility reasons. (He had been trained by Bob Baffert.) His speed could get him a good trip in this race if he can reprise it, and he has a good pedigree for the step up in trip, though demand a price on the sharp class rise.
Classic Catch: He makes his stakes debut for trainer Todd Pletcher. However, he is one of the few in the field who has won at 1 1/8 miles: in fact, he has won over that distance twice, including once at Aqueduct when he broke his maiden last November. He has the tactical speed to carve out a good trip, as well. The biggest drawback is the post, as he is mired toward the outside and it may be tough not to lose ground, a concern since he does have to take a step forward against this tougher company.
Mr. Swagger: He only has two starts, so he cedes experience to the rest of the field here. He graduated on debut over fast local dirt, and should prefer that to the t conditions he dealt with when well beaten in the Gotham last out. However, Maclean’s Music on top raises some questions about how much he is going to want to stretch out to this distance, and his post is a recipe for ground loss.
Hit Show: He won the Withers over this course and distance, making him a deserving favorite in this race. His tracking style means he has some options to find the best place to drop in, though he will probably have to deal with some ground loss, at least, from this far-outside post. If he can run back to that victory in the Withers, he is a win candidate, though, and if he moves forward, he becomes particularly formidable.
