Saturday’s $1 Million Wood Memorial is make or break for two hot horses on the 2012 Kentucky Derby trail.
Alpha wins the Withers
Godolphin stable’s Alpha sits at #23 on the graded stakes earnings list with $180,000 and will make it into the Derby regardless of where he finishes in the 1 1/8 mile race. However, the competition in New York has been circumspect this season, and a less-than-stellar performance will send Alpha to the Derby in a cloud of questions. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has managed the son of Bernardini carefully, first considering the Florida and Louisiana Derbys before deciding on the Wood after champion Hansen detoured to the Blue Grass. All of this flip-flopping is cause for concern, but he should run well on his familiar Aqueduct home track. Regular jockey Ramon Dominguez has the ride. Alpha is listed at 5-2 on the morning line.
The biggest challenger to Alpha is Todd Pletcher’s Gemologist. The undefeated son of Tiznow got a late start this year, not racing until an allowance at Gulfstream March 16. He had a solid juvenile season capped by victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26. There are as many questions surrounding Gemologist as there are Alpha, but the biggest one is the question of earnings. Gemologist only has $103,000 in graded earnings and is #39 on the graded earnings list. He must place no worse than 3rd to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. He will be ridden by jockey Javier Castellano and is listed at 8-5 ML.
Also in the Wood Memorial is My Adonis, the familiar face in second place this Derby season. My Adonis was 2nd in the Gotham Stakes last out and 3rd in the Holy Bull in January. He will be ridden by Elvis Trujillo.
The Lumber Guy has gotten a lot of attention in his brief career – he is undefeated in 2 starts this year. He will have to step up quite a bit here. Jockey Julian Pimentel will ride.
Nick Zito sends Casual Trick, Michael Matz sends Teeth of the Dog, and Chad Brown has buzz colt Street Life entered.
Finally, Sagamore Farm has Tiger Walk, a latecomer who could grab a piece should a hot pace develop early on. Tiger Walk was 4th in the Gotham.
Post time for the Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial is 5:15 p.m. ET.
The Kentucky Derby 2012 trail is quickly winding to its explosive conclusion May 5 – only one weekend of preps remain!
Kentucky Derby 2012 