OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Undefeated, but no longer untested, Verrazano turned back the challenges of logical contenders Normandy Invasion and Vyjack to win Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct by three-quarters of a length and perhaps earn himself the role as favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

No fewer than a half-dozen workouts were recorded at several Kentucky venues Saturday as final serious preparations were made for the annual marquee race at Keeneland, the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – It is officially Festival time at Oaklawn.

The field for the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy, which on Wednesday will be the first of eight stakes to be decided over the final week of the meet, was drawn Friday. A few hours prior, Oxbow breezed six furlongs in his final major prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. And later the same afternoon, trainer Ian Wilkes was awaiting the weights for the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap, which is likely to draw his Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Fort Larned.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After watching Transparent romp to a 10 3/4-length victory Thursday at Aqueduct, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s first thought was, “Hopefully, we didn’t run in the wrong race.”

While Transparent’s victory certainly was eye-catching, he wasn’t facing the quality of competition he would have had he run in Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial.

But Transparent’s victory did earn him a return to stakes company, most likely the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan at Belmont Park on May 11.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The stakes action for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct isn’t confined to Saturday’s Wood Memorial and Bay Shore.

On Sunday, five 3-year-olds will attempt to convince their trainers to try bigger and better things down the road when they contest a one-turn mile in the $75,000 Fit to Fight Stakes.

Chad Brown and Kiaran McLaughlin, who both had runners in the $1 million Wood Memorial, send out the likely top two choices in Integrity and Now and Then.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hear the Ghost, who was scratched from Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Thursday because of an injury detected in a knee, will be rested for four months before he returns to training, trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer said Friday.

Hollendorfer stressed that Hear the Ghost’s injury was minor and would not require surgery, but said the timing eliminates a spring campaign, including the Triple Crown races.

The eighth season of Countdown to the Crown returns as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 4 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates, opinions and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.

Straight from the gate

The decision to bet with or against Verrazano as the 4-5 favorite in the Wood Memorial Saturday is less of a pure handicapping choice than an internal struggle between two voices that emerge in many a horseplayer’s mind this time of year.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bettors accustomed to watching a lot of races often can spot winners as the horses are traveling in the early to middle portion of their races. Their jockeys are relatively motionless, and the horses are moving smoothly without encouragement.

ARCADIA, Calif. – The twists and turns on the Kentucky Derby trail took another hairpin curve on Thursday afternoon when it was announced that Hear the Ghost, the San Felipe Stakes winner, would miss the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday because of an injury. He becomes the third horse, following Fountain of Youth runner-up Violence and Risen Star winner Ive Struck a Nerve, to be removed from consideration for the May 4 Kentucky Derby after winning a prep worth 50 points to the winner.