Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial, 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, April 3, 2021 (100 Derby qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth) Winner: Bourbonic, by Bernardini Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche Owner: Calumet Farm Beyer Speed Figure: 89 This looked like the weakest of the three major preps on April 3 and it played out that way, with the improbable BOURBONIC rallying from last to first to score a 72-1 upset as the longest shot in the field. His previous best Beyer in five tries was a 76, and he was so lightly regarded that he was risked for $50,000 in a maiden-claiming race in his third start. Fortunately for his connections, there were no takers. That maiden-claiming race was his first with blinkers. He’s now 3 for 4 since adding them, and while he’s obviously far better now than back in December, when we could have crowd-sourced his purchase, he’s going to have to improve even more significantly to be a factor on Derby Day. The Wood does not compare favorably with the Santa Anita Derby and the Blue Grass, also run April 3, and the Arkansas Derby is still to come. In this race, Bourbonic was taken in hand early and trailed the field into the first turn while saving ground. He remained well back to the far turn, raced in about the two path while still last for much of the turn, was angled off the rail coming off the bend, split horses in upper stretch, then finished best of all down the center of the track to get up in time. It’s tough to get a read on the fractions since the main track at Aqueduct is so slow, but from a race shape standpoint it’s noteworthy that the first three across the line were the last three a half-mile into the race. DYNAMIC ONE, who finished second, was three to four paths wide while mid-pack around the first turn, never could drop in, rallied four paths wide on the far turn while advancing steadily, took the lead in upper stretch while drifting in slightly, got the best of WEYBURN and turned back CROWDED TRADE, but got nailed late. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Crowded Trade, who was third, broke a bit sluggishly to lose position and was in front of only Bourbonic around the first turn. He moved closer heading to the far turn, was on the rail until midway on the turn when he was gradually angled to the three path, moved to about the five path coming off the bend, had dead aim on Dynamic One but never could get past him and was passed late by the onrushing winner. This was only his third start and so far his career is a mirror image of the barn’s Cloud Computing, who was kept out of the Derby and won the Preakness in 2017 after winning his debut, running second in the Gotham, and third in the Wood, the exact résumé of Crowded Trade to date. Not saying he’ll win the Preakness, but that’s a realistic goal. Weyburn, who was fourth, was ridden away from the gate to establish a forward position, conceded the lead to MARKET MAVEN, then got outside him around the first turn in about the three path. He was a bit keen early, and moved alongside Market Maven heading down the backside. He raced outside Market Maven on the far turn while moving to the lead, shifted in in upper stretch while trying to stave off Dynamic One, and weakened in the final sixteenth. Of those nearest the lead early, he had the best finish. He’s a giant of a colt, and his connection’s decision to point for the Belmont seems wise. BROOKLYN STRONG, who was fifth, broke sharply while veering out slightly at the start, then went into the first turn hugging the rail while just behind the leaders. He had to tap on the brakes midway on the first turn, advanced inside PREVALENCE down the backstretch, continued to save every inch of ground behind the leaders on the far turn, wasn’t quick enough to get through an opening in upper stretch, had to wait a moment at mid-stretch, then finished evenly. This was a big ask off a four-month layoff. Prevalence, who was sixth, had good speed into the first turn and then was eased back a bit to tuck in behind Market Maven and Weyburn. He stayed in that spot to the far turn, was in the two path between Brooklyn Strong and CANDY MAN ROCKET, was asked aggressively midway on the turn but had little noticeable response, continued one-paced to deep stretch, began to drift in and was out-footed late. This was his third start, his first in a stakes, and his first around two turns. His figs entering the race were only moderate. To this point, his reputation exceeds his accomplishments. RISK TAKING, who was seventh, raced in some traffic under a snug hold while in the two path in seventh around the first turn, pulled hard entering the backside, and ate a ton of dirt down the backside while covered up. He got outside on the far turn after Dynamic One cleared him, got pushed widest of all by stablemate Crowded Trade coming off the bend to about the six path when failing to quicken, raced on his wrong lead to mid-stretch, and never put in any sort of bid. Considering that he’d won his two prior races at this track and distance, he was disappointing. Market Maven, who was eighth, was hustled away from his outside draw to make the lead, gradually angled toward the rail while heading around the first turn, was shadowed by Weyburn down the backside, was under energetic handling midway on the turn to try and hold the lead, but steadily faded through the lane. He was coming off a four-length win over Bourbonic in a first-level allowance at Parx. Candy Man Rocket, who finished last of nine, tried to drop in and save ground entering the first turn but had to check off heels and was angled to about the three or four path, behind and outside Weyburn. He advanced on the leaders from the three path around the far turn, but couldn’t keep up in upper stretch, was late to swap leads, and emptied out badly, the second straight time he has faltered badly in the stretch run.