Aqueduct spring meet stakes schedule mirrors that of 2022

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Topped by the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial for 3-year-olds and the Grade 1 Carter Handicap for older male sprinters, there will be 14 stakes worth $2.775 million offered at the 2023 Aqueduct spring meet, according to a schedule released Friday by the New York Racing Association.

The stakes program mirrors the 2022 spring meet with a tweak here and there.

The Wood Memorial, New York’s last prep for 3-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby trail, will be run April 8, four weeks out from the Derby. The Wood, run at 1 1/8 miles, offers its top five finishers qualifying points (100-40-30-20-10) for the May 6 Derby. Last year, Mo Donegal won the Wood and ultimately the Belmont Stakes.

The Wood shares billing with the $300,000 Carter, the first Grade 1 of the year on this circuit. That day’s card also includes the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle for 3-year-old fillies. The first five finishers from that race earn qualifying points (100-40-30-20-10) to the Kentucky Oaks on May 5. The April 8 card also includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

The only other graded race offered at the Aqueduct spring session is the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff Handicap for older female sprinters to be run April 7.

The tweaks to the stakes program include the shortening to a mile from 1 1/16 miles of the Woodhaven and Memories of Silver, turf stakes for 3-year-olds and 3-year-old fillies, respectively. Also, with the 19-day Aqueduct spring meet extended by one week (March 30 through April 30), the Affirmed Success Stakes for New York-bred sprinters, typically run at Belmont Park, will be run on April 30 at Aqueduct.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.