2018 Road to the Derby: Wood Memorial analysis

Grade 2, $1 million Wood Memorial; 1 1/8 miles; Aqueduct; April 7, 2018
(100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth)

Winner: Vino Rosso, by Curlin
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 98

The beat goes on for Pletcher, who won yet another major Derby prep here, following victories this year in the Holy Bull, Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby, and Rebel. This was a significant step forward for VINO ROSSO, who just ran evenly in his prior start, the Tampa Bay Derby, when outfitted with blinkers for the first time. In this race, he finished off the race like a horse who wants even more distance, though the race shape – with a hot early pace – absolutely was beneficial to his cause. He was stuck behind a slow pace in the Tampa Bay Derby, impacting his ability to close.

The victory obviously impressed Velazquez, who announced 48 hours after this race that Vino Rosso would be his Derby mount. He also won the Louisiana Derby on Noble Indy and the Florida Derby on Audible, all in concert with Pletcher, with whom he won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Always Dreaming.

Vino Rosso, starting from the outside post here in a field of nine, took a few strides to get in gear and went into the first turn toward the back of the pack while three paths wide. He advanced down the backstretch to be among a group of horses closest to but well back of the runaway leader OLD TIME REVIVAL, advanced three and then four paths wide on the far turn while rallying outside of ENTICED and RESTORING HOPE, was even with Enticed coming off the bend, drifted in and bumped solidly with Enticed in upper stretch while changing leads, then drew away late.

Enticed, who was second, broke well and went into the first turn just behind and outside Old Time Revival, wisely did not try to chase Old Time Revival up the backstretch while just in front of Restoring Hope, moved in tandem with Restoring Hope and then Vino Rosso on the far turn, engulfed Old Time Revival near the quarter pole, drifted out slightly to the three path, took a couple of significant bumps from Vino Rosso inside the three-sixteenths pole, then couldn’t go with the winner late. He won his lone start at Churchill Downs last fall in the Kentucky Jockey Club, so returning to that track should help his cause, but he will have to turn in a career-best effort on May 5 against what is shaping up as a deep Derby field.

Restoring Hope, who was third, got fanned about four paths wide into the first turn while racing outside Enticed, stayed right on Enticed’s hip down the backstretch, was even with Enticed with three furlongs to go, was outfooted by Vino Rosso and Enticed coming to the quarter pole, but then kept to his task through the lane. This was his first start in two months, and only his fourth lifetime start. He has the look of a horse who will be a lot better four months from now, around the time of the Travers.

FIRENZE FIRE, who was fourth, raced toward the latter half of the field while toward the inside around the first turn while under restraint, was angled outside down the backstretch but then had to tap on the brakes while in traffic, followed Vino Rosso around the far turn, was asked aggressively in upper stretch but lost ground to the top three. He simply does not want to run this far, and his form is starting to regress, as if he would be better suited by a freshening instead of a start in the Derby.

HEARTFULLOFSTARS, who finished fifth, hugged the rail in fourth around the first turn, got a dream run along the rail into the far turn, came under a ride three furlongs out, but was unable at that point to go with the eventual first three finishers, continued to get clear sailing around the turn and into the lane while remaining inside, but was simply not good enough. This was an example of a terrific ride – by Dylan Davis – that was for naught.

KING ZACHARY, who was sixth, went into the first turn in the two path, mid-pack, just outside of Heartfullofstars. He lost a bit of ground into the backstretch and was alongside Vino Rosso with five furlongs to go, made a mild move to try and get into an attacking position nearing the far turn, but quickly came under a ride, was outrun by Firenze Fire and Heartfullofstars midway on the turn, then went evenly through the lane.

EVALUATOR, who was seventh, trailed into the first turn while saving ground, got somewhat closer nearing the far turn, angled into the lane in the four path, but always was well back and never got involved.

Old Time Revival, who finished eighth, took a strong hold of the bit entering the first turn and ran off to a long lead while setting a rapid pace, absolutely refused to settle, ran as fast as he could as far as he could, but was done by the quarter pole and tired badly through the lane while drifting out.

CATCH TWENTY TWO, who was last of nine, broke slowly and then bobbled slightly, raced near the rear of the pack in the two path around the first turn, had to be asked aggressively with a half-mile still to run, but continued to drop back. He was badly overmatched.