Life Is Good to face only a few in Woodward
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Life Is Good is expected to have just three or four opponents in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Aqueduct, scheduled to be his last race before the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Life Is Good is scheduled to meet stablemate Keepmeinmind, fifth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup; Law Professor, winner of the Tapit Stakes on Sept. 1 at Kentucky Downs; and Informative, recent upset winner of the Grade 3 Philip Iselin. Thomas Shelby, a 4 1/4-length winner of an optional-claiming race Sept. 10 at Monmouth Park, is possible to run, according to his owner-trainer, David Jacobson.
Nominated but not expected to run are Art Collector, last year’s Woodward winner who is pointing to Saturday’s $500,000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs, and First Captain, the Grade 3 Pimlico Special winner who is targeting the Grade 2 Fayette on Oct. 29 at Keeneland.
Life Is Good is coming off a two-length victory in the Whitney on Aug. 6 at Saratoga, his eighth victory in 10 career starts and third Grade 1 triumph.
Life Is Good remained at Saratoga following the conclusion of the Saratoga meet, and last Saturday worked five furlongs in 1:00.76 over the main track.
“It’s remarkable how consistent he is and he’s literally breezed well every single time he’s breezed for us,” Pletcher said. Saturday “was no exception – in hand throughout with a super strong gallop-out and looked great doing it.”
Life Is Good was scheduled to ship downstate Wednesday, which is when entries close and post positions are assigned for the Woodward.
Law Professor will be returning to dirt after winning the Tapit Stakes going a mile and 70 yards on turf at Kentucky Downs in what was his first start for trainer Rob Atras. Law Professor has run well on dirt, finishing second to Express Train in the Grade 2 San Pasqual in February when he was trained by Michael McCarthy.
“Obviously, we know Life Is Good is going to be there, but other than that it looked like we could be a strong contender for second,” Atras said.
On Saturday, Law Professor worked a sharp half-mile in 47.41 seconds by himself over the Belmont main track.
“He broke off a little sharp,” Atras said. “The rider had him well within himself the whole way. It was a nice breeze, actually, a little quicker than I’d like to go.”
Jose Ortiz will ride Law Professor in the Woodward.
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