Pletcher seeks sixth Wood Memorial win with Outshine, Overdeliver

OZONE PARK N.Y. – While the Wood Memorial has not yet proved a path to success in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Todd Pletcher, the Tampa Bay Downs route has been quite productive in the Wood Memorial for the seven-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner.

Pletcher has won the Wood five times, second only to the seven victories recorded by trainer Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons. Pletcher’s last three Wood winners – Vino Rosso (2018), Outwork (2016), and Verrazano (2013) – have come to Aqueduct via stakes at Tampa.

On Saturday, when the Wood is held for the 95th time, Pletcher will be represented by Outshine and Overdeliver, both of whom are coming off runner-up finishes in stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Outshine and Overdeliver were two of 11 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial. The Wood offers 170 qualifying points (100-40-20-10) to the May 4 Kentucky Derby for its top four finishers .

Saturday’s 11-race card features five stakes, including the Grade 1 Carter, and will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern.

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Outshine, a son of Malibu Moon, is coming off a second-place finish to Tacitus in the Tampa Bay Derby. He was receiving a beautiful trip under Joel Rosario, sitting third behind dueling leaders, but may have moved prematurely and was outfinished by Tacitus.

“I think if Joel had had experience on him, he may have waited a touch longer, but it was a good effort,” Pletcher said. “It propelled him forward, I believe.”

John Velazquez, aboard for Outshine’s first three starts – and four of Pletcher’s Wood winners – will be back on Outshine on Saturday.

Overdeliver, a son of Overanalyze, is coming off a second in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa on Jan. 19. Win Win Win won the Pasco, setting a seven-furlong track record. Overdeliver missed some training time in February, but has worked four times since Feb. 23, including a five-furlong move in 1:00.48 in company with Outshine last Saturday at Palm Beach Downs.

“His race in the Pasco was pretty good,” Pletcher said. “Win Win Win ran exceptionally fast that day. We didn’t come out of it with a specific plan. It seems like in the last three weeks he’s been getting better and better.”

Kendrick Carmouche will ride Overdeliver.

Tacitus likely will be favored in the Wood. Tacitus, trained by Bill Mott, is by 2004 Wood winner Tapit and out of 2013 Gazelle winner Close Hatches.

Others entered include Tax, the Withers winner; Haikal, the Gotham winner; Final Jeopardy; Grumps Little Tots; Joevia; Not That Brady; and Math Wizard. The maiden winner Hoffa’s Union was a late entrant after it became apparent he would be excluded from the Blue Grass Stakes due to insufficient earnings.