Deterministic works like two turns will be no problem in Wood Memorial

INDIANTOWN, Fla. – Deterministic, the Grade 3 Gotham winner, completed preparations for next Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct by working five furlongs in 1:01.48 Friday morning at Payson Park, a training center about 90 minutes north of Gulfstream Park.

With jockey Joel Rosario up, Deterministic broke off at the three-furlong pole, starting about two lengths behind the 4-year-old Summer Cause. After an opening eighth in 11.98 seconds, Rosario tipped Deterministic outside of his work mate and came to the finish line about a half-length in front after three furlongs in 35.73 seconds. The worked continued out around the first turn with Deterministic galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.41 while opening up on his work mate.

“He was willing, he was moving well, he came back good, very exciting,” trainer Christophe Clement said later. “I thought it was nice for him to be in behind a horse. If he goes two turns, a mile and an eighth, most probably he will be behind horses. I kind of like in the morning to try and reproduce what you’re going to do in the race.”

The Wood will be Deterministic’s third career start, and first start around two turns. Rosario said, “You don’t know until you try,” but sounded optimistic that the son of Liam’s Map will handle stretching out.

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“He’s an athletic horse, he does everything nice and smooth, so we’ll see what happens with more distance,” Rosario said.

Deterministic, who came off a seven-month layoff to win the Gotham over an extremely sloppy track, is likely going to be favored in what is looking like a full field for the Wood, which spreads 200 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to its top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10).

As of Friday, there were 17 horses being considered for the Wood, run at 1 1/8 miles. Preference order is given to Grade 1, then Grade 2, then Grade 3 winners before total earnings are used to determine who’s in the field. Given the current 17 names under consideration, the ones on the outside, in order, are Top Conor, Good Money, and Protective. Entries close Wednesday.

Top Conor or Good Money could be rerouted to the Blue Grass, trainer Chad Brown said.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has four under consideration, but is likely to only enter three from the group of Bail Us Out – who is entered in Saturday’s Florida Derby – Be You, Tuscan Sky, and Protective.

In addition to Deterministic, others considered definite to run include Deposition, El Grande O, Elysian Meadows, Evening News, Gettysburg Address, Lonesome Boy, Merit, Resilience, Society Man, and Uncle Heavy. A possible starter is Dilger.

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