Three will test Wood Memorial jinx in Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s a quirky statistic to be sure, being as there is no rhyme or reason for it, but the Wood Memorial is 0 for 15 years producing a top-three finisher in the Kentucky Derby.

Overall, the Wood Memorial has produced 20 Kentucky Derby winners, with 11 of those horses winning both races. The last to win both was Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000.

In 2003, Wood runner-up Funny Cide flipped the script on Wood winner Empire Maker in the Kentucky Derby.

In the 15 Derbies from 2004-18, 33 horses who ran in the Wood competed in the Kentucky Derby. Five of those horses – Jazil (2006), Tale of Ekati (2008), Normandy Invasion (2013), Wicked Strong (2014), and Frosted (2015) – finished fourth.

This year, the Wood’s top three finishers – Tacitus, Tax, and Haikal – will be running in the Derby.