Wood Memorial draws 11-horse field

A field of 11 horses has been entered for Saturday's Grade 1 $750,000 Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct. The field will be led by Bobby Frankel trainee Master David, who drew post position No. 5 and has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite with Alex Solis aboard. Master David will be making his first start in two months after last being seen winning the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 8 over a field that included Kentucky Derby contenders Borrego, Preachinatthebar, and Action This Day.

The winner of the Wood Memorial is likely to be regarded as one of the favorites in next month's wide-open Kentucky Derby. Besides Master David, other contenders in the Wood will include Value Plus and Tapit, who are both exiting defeats in the Florida Derby. Value Plus (2nd in Fla. Derby) drew post No. 6 for the Wood and is listed at 7-2 in the morning line with John Velazquez aboard. Tapit (6th in Fla. Derby) drew post No. 2 with jockey Ramon Dominguez, and is 8-1 in the morning line.

Eddington is listed as the 3-1 second-choice in the Wood after finishing third as the favorite last time out in the Gotham Stakes, a one-turn mile at Aqueduct. However, Eddington, who won his last two two-turn races, should benefit from the Wood Memorial's added distance. Eddington drew post No. 8 and will be ridden by Jerry Bailey.

Also in the Wood Memorial field will be Sinister G and Little Matth Man who finished first and third respectively in the Grade 2 Lane's End Stakes at Turfway last time out. Sinister G drew post No. 9 and is 15-1 under jockey Paul Toscano. Little Matth Man will break from the seven-hole with Pablo Fragoso, and is also listed at 15-1 odds.

The evenly-matched field will be completed by Royal Assault (post 1, 20-1), Consecrate (post 3, 12-1), Swingforthefences (post 4, 10-1), Hornshope (post 10, 30-1), and Cuba (post 11, 30-1).

WOOD MEMORIAL, Sat. April 10

Grade 1, $750,000

Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles