Kentucky Derby: Social Inclusion, Uncle Sigh hope to join Wicked Strong, Samraat in Louisville
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Wicked Strong came out of his 3 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct “a little tired” but otherwise in good order, according to trainer Jimmy Jerkens, who added that he will wait until as late as possible to ship his horse to Louisville for the May 3 Kentucky Derby.
Rick Violette, the trainer of Wood runner-up Samraat, also said his horse came out of the race well and he too would wait until the Monday before the Derby to ship his horse to Churchill Downs.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
Wicked Strong and Samraat are the two horses from the Wood Memorial with guaranteed spots in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. Social Inclusion and Uncle Sigh, third and fifth, respectively, in the Wood, are on the bubble but their connections indicated they would run in the Derby if they can get in.
The Derby is limited to 20 starters, with a points system used to determine the field should more than 20 enter, which is usually the case. Uncle Sigh has 24 points - currently tied for 17th on the list - while Social Inclusion, who lost out on second by a nose in the Wood, has 20 points, which puts him 22nd.
There are still two major preps remaining - the Arkansas Derby and Blue Grass Stakes - where horses can earn points toward the Derby. The Lexington Stakes on April 19 also offers points, but not as many as the Arkansas Derby and Blue Grass.
Wicked Strong had only two points for his third in last year’s Remsen, before earning 100 points Saturday with his off-the-pace victory in the Wood. Wicked Strong, under Rajiv Maragh, rallied past Social Inclusion, Schivarelli, and Samraat in the final furlong, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.31 and earning a 104 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I thought the time was legitimate,” said Jerkens, the son of the legendary Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens. “He had to go his last eighth in 12 [seconds].”
As Wicked Strong walked the shed row Sunday morning, Jerkens noted the horse, a son of Hard Spun owned by Centennial Farms, definitely showed the effects of running hard.
“He’s a little tired,” Jerkens said. “He’s usually giving the walker a hard time. He ran, that’s for sure. He’s showing it. That’s good, though, you like them giving you an effort.”
Wicked Strong had run twice at Gulfstream, finishing ninth in the Holy Bull after acting up in the gate, and running a better-than-it-looks fourth in an allowance race that was won by Constitution, who came back to win the Florida Derby.
Jerkens said he would do the bulk of Wicked Strong’s preparation for the Derby at Belmont Park, shipping out on April 28, five days before the race.
“That will probably be what we do,” Jerkens said. “That’s plenty of time to get familiar with everything. You can overdo that stuff too.”
By virtue of victories in the Withers and Gotham, Samraat had secured enough points to get into the Derby regardless of what happened in the Wood. At the quarter pole, Violette said he thought his horse was going to finish fourth, but he kept on coming, nailing Social Inclusion in the final strides for second.
“I think we got enough out of it without overdoing it,” Violette said Sunday morning. “I thought we were going to be fourth. I put my binoculars down twice.”
Samraat has shipped back and forth from south Florida for the Withers and Gotham, but will remain at Aqueduct, where he will likely work twice before shipping to Churchill on April 28.
Meanwhile, Social Inclusion, the 8-5 Wood favorite based on two dominant wins at Gulfstream, was scheduled to van back to Gulfstream Park on Sunday afternoon. Owner Ron Sanchez said if 20 points is enough to get into the Derby he would run. If not, he would point to the Preakness at Pimlico on May 17.
“If we somehow are able to be there, we’ll go,” Sanchez said about the Derby, “but we are pointing to the Preakness.”
Sanchez said Social Inclusion came out of the Wood “very well. Ate everything.”
Uncle Sigh, who broke a step slow in the Wood, and was four wide throughout, finished fifth, beaten eight lengths. Uncle Sigh had 24 points based on runner-up finishes to Samraat in the Withers and Gotham. Trainer Gary Contessa said if 24 points is enough to get in “I’ll see you in Kentucky.”
Contessa added he may equip Uncle Sigh with blinkers for his next start.