Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial, 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, April 9, 2022 (100 Derby qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth) Winner: Mo Donegal, by Uncle Mo Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Joel Rosario Owner: Donegal Racing Beyer Speed Figure: 96 MO DONEGAL, returning to the scene of the Remsen, his biggest previous victory, took an expected leap forward off his 3-year-old debut in the Holy Bull. He rallied from last in this eight-horse field to nail loose-on-the-lead EARLY VOTING, franking the form of the Remsen, which also produced the top Derby prospect Zandon. Mo Donegal was hindered by the track profile and distance in the Holy Bull, but it was a means to an end. He won’t have to run in anything as short as 1 1/16 miles in a while – perhaps ever again – nor worry about a short-porch finish line. He runs like a horse with zero distance limitations. The key with him, owing to his late-running style, is getting a trip. In the Wood, he couldn’t have had a better one while earning a career-best Beyer figure. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more In this race, Mo Donegal didn’t break all that sharply from his rail draw, then went into the first turn in front of just one horse while saving ground. After dropping back briefly to be last, he inched closer heading into the far turn, merely had to go around the tiring GOLDEN CODE before heading right back to the rail while advancing on the far turn, cut the corner into the lane, then angled out for the final furlong to reel in Early Voting in the closing yards. He had a solid pace into which to run over a track that was not the plowed field it was earlier this winter, but he couldn’t have had a more gorgeous trip, thanks to Rosario, who is committed to Epicenter for the Derby. Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Mo Donegal in the Remsen, is expected to pick up the mount for the Derby, per colleague David Grening. Early Voting, who finished second, figured to be part of a contested pace, but found himself loose on the lead when MORELLO broke poorly. He was able to dictate terms while setting a solid pace, shook free from his closest pursuer, A.P.’S SECRET, without being asked while heading around the far turn, was asked for his best coming off the bend, had a clear lead a furlong out, but couldn’t hold off the winner while well in front of everyone else. He’s certainly done enough to justify going on to the Derby, but it’s doubtful he’ll get the same kind of pace scenario there, not with a quality horse like Epicenter breathing down his neck early. His connections, with Cloud Computing in 2017, bypassed the Derby to shoot, successfully, for the Preakness in his fourth start. The next race will be the fourth for Early Voting. SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING, who was third, raced mid-pack in the two path around the first turn, then launched a bid three to four paths wide on the far turn. He was one-paced passing the quarter pole while Mo Donegal rushed past inside him, tipped widest of all coming off the bend, wanted to lug in a bit in upper stretch, and plugged away to finish third while no threat to the top two. A.P.’s Secret, who was fourth, was urged away from the gate and set up shop around the first turn just behind and outside of Early Voting. He inched closer heading down the backstretch, was under an energetic ride midway on the turn while futilely trying to keep pace with Early Voting, drifted out a bit under left-handed whipping at mid-stretch, couldn’t hold third and barely held fourth. He needs shorter and softer. BARESE, who was fifth, was forwardly placed while three to four paths wide around the first turn after starting from the outside stall. He entered the backstretch just outside and behind A.P.’s Secret, moved outside Early Voting and A.P.’s Secret in the three path on the far turn, but stalled on his run in upper stretch and was outfinished by Skippylongstocking and A.P.’s Secret in the final 150 yards while giving futile chase to the top two. Not a bad try for his two-turn debut and against the best horses he’s yet faced. When he returns to see his friends in New York-bred company – in which he’s 3 for 3 – he’ll be formidable. :: Want to start playing with a $510 bankroll and have access to free Formulator? Learn more Morello, who was sixth, broke last, completely changing the complexion of the race. Instead of being forwardly placed, as he had been in his three prior races, all victories, he was out the back, behind even Mo Donegal into the first turn and into the backstretch, while not being rushed forward. He was two to three paths wide around the first turn, tried to advance nearing the half-mile pole but was unable to go with, among others, Mo Donegal, wound up three to four paths wide on the far turn, and never was close. The race is a throw-out. Nothing was learned as to whether he can handle two turns, but it would be tough to go on to the Derby off this, even though he has sufficient points gleaned in the Gotham. LONG TERM, who was seventh, raced in the two path in sixth around the first turn, tried to move in tandem with Mo Donegal heading to the far turn, but was outrun and dropped back to last, only to pass the exhausted Golden Code in the lane. He’s still a maiden and should be effective in that context if this didn’t set him back. Golden Code, who finished last of eight, was hustled away from the gate but was outfooted by Early Voting, then saved ground around the first turn while following Early Voting. He stayed in that spot to the far turn, at which point he began to be badly outrun, and by the quarter pole his rider decided, wisely, to handle him sympathetically.