Aqueduct: Mr Palmer to get his shot in Wood Memorial

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mr Palmer, the authoritative winner of last Saturday’s Private Terms Stakes at Laurel, will try to jump on the Triple Crown trail in the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6, his connections said Wednesday.

“If everything looks good he’ll probably try the Wood,” Leana Willaford, New York-based assistant to trainer Bill Mott, said Wednesday.

Willaford reported that Mr Palmer has emerged from the Private Terms in good order.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Mr Palmer, a son of Pulpit, overcame a bad start and a wide trip to win the Private Terms by 3 1/2 lengths. He rallied seven wide in the stretch under Junior Alvarado, who told Willaford that Mr Palmer “wasn’t standing right” when the gates opened.

“It was an education for him,” Willaford said of the race. “He had some adversity and overcame it.”

It took Mr Palmer six attempts before he won a maiden race, which he did on Feb. 17 by a neck after making the lead sooner than planned. In the Private Terms, Mr Palmer came from nearly 10 lengths back while showing he could handle 1 1/8 miles. He earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

Willaford said that Mr Palmer has “really changed” over the course of the winter.

“He definitely matured physically and mentally,” Willaford said. “When he first came in he wanted to play.”

In the Wood, Mr Palmer is expected to face the undefeated tandem of Verrazano and Vyjack as well as West Hills Giant, Elnaawi and Speak Logistics.