Rice likely to give Arctic Arrogance a shot in Wood Memorial

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Artic Arrogance, runner-up in three consecutive Kentucky Derby points-scoring races, will most likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 8, trainer Linda Rice said Friday.

After being forced to miss the Grade 3 Gotham due to illness, Arctic Arrogance was being considered for the Wood or the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes at seven furlongs on the Wood undercard. But after working Arctic Arrogance twice the last week - including a six-furlong move in 1:12.60 on Friday - Rice said she is leaning toward the Wood.

"I think he deserves a chance,” Rice said Friday. “We can always back up from there. He’s training really well. Hopefully, the Wood will be half the size of the Gotham.”

The Gotham, won by Raise Cain, drew 15 horses. Nominations to the Wood don’t close for another week, and the field is very much in flux as horsemen analyze the prospective fields for the last round of Derby prep races.

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Among those being considered for Wood three weeks out are Blazing Sevens, Classic Car Wash, Classic Catch, Classic Legacy, Dubyuynell, General Banker, Hit Show, Raise Cain, Shadow Dragon and Slip Mahoney.

Shadow Dragon, a New York-bred son of Army Mule who was second at Gulfstream in the Holy Bull and fifth in the Fountain of Youth, worked four furlongs in 48.60 seconds Friday at Payson Park in Florida, the fastest of 17 moves at that distance.

Dubyuhnell, the Grade 2 Remsen winner, worked a half-mile in 48.85 seconds Friday morning at the Palm Meadows training center in Florida. Trainer Danny Gargan said he is between the Florida Derby and the Wood for Dubyuhnell.

In his lone start this year, Dubyuhnell finished eighth after checking early as the favorite in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs.

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