Aqueduct: Noble Moon works to prove readiness for Wood Memorial start

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In order for Noble Moon to be ready to run in the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 5, he had to start showing trainer Leah Gyarmati more in his morning training than he had been.

On Monday, Noble Moon took a positive step toward the Wood Memorial by working five furlongs in 1:01.54 over the Belmont Park training track. It was the second-fastest of 10 works at the distance, with the fastest move having been posted by a horse who worked out of the starting gate. Noble Moon, who worked in company, worked from the pole.

The work was the fifth for Noble Moon since Feb. 12 and came just five days after he worked a slow half-mile in 51.11 seconds last Wednesday.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was up for Monday’s work, which was done in company with the multiple race winner and New York-bred Deceived. Noble Moon began about two lengths behind Deceived, gradually caught his workmate turning for home, and finished in a solid 24.64 seconds over a track that had been playing relatively slowly all morning. Noble Moon galloped out six furlongs 1:15.86.

“I think it was really good,” Gyarmati said afterward. “I like how he sat off the other horse, passed him, galloped out.”

After winning the Grade 2 Jerome on Jan. 4, Noble Moon has battled issues with both of his front feet that caused him to miss some training time. Those problems, and wicked winter weather, have inhibited Noble Moon’s training schedule.

Though she was pleased with Monday’s move, Gyarmati was still not ready to commit Noble Moon to the Wood, run at 1 1/8 miles.

“I’m not there yet,” Gyarmati said. “This was a nice work, but it was still just five-eighths with a good gallop-out, which is a long way from being ready to run in the Wood. I feel closer than I did last week. A lot will depend on the next breeze.”

Ortiz, who had breezed the horse a half-mile in 49.50 seconds on March 6, thought this breeze was “much better” than that one.

“He was doing it comfortably and easy behind the other horse,” Ortiz said. “Took a little dirt in his face, and when I asked him, he took off, and he felt really good today. I breezed him one [previous] time, and today he breezed much better. Now, he’s doing much better.”

Speaking of the Wood Memorial, the purse distribution will be a little different from years past, when the breakdown was, in part, 60 percent to the winner, 20 percent for second, and 10 percent to third, with all starters getting some money. This year, the top three finishers will get 59 percent, 19 percent, and 9 percent, while the top eight finishers will get paid. Sixth through eighth place will be worth $25,000, $20,000, and $15,000. Last year, the sixth- through 10th-place finishers each received $4,000.