Wood Memorial: Toby's Corner springs upset; Uncle Mo fades to third

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Toby’s Corner split horses inside the eighth pole and outfinished 20-1 Arthur’s Tale to win the $1,000,000 Wood Memorial by a neck, as 1-9 favorite Uncle Mo faded late to wind up third after setting the pace.

Uncle Mo was a bit slow to load, but broke cleanly and set fractions of 23.49, 47.98 and 1:12.28 under John Velazquez, before weakening in the lane.

Toby’s Corner, a son of 2005 Wood winner Bellamy Road, and the distant second choice in a field of nine 3-year-olds, caught Arthur’s Tale in the final yards while racing with blinkers on for the first time. It was a length back from Arthur’s Tale to Uncle Mo in third.

Toby's Corner is trained by Graham Motion. Toby’s Corner ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.93 on a fast main track, and earned $600,000 for owner Dianne Cotter.

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Arthur’s Tale, coming off a first-level allowance win 18 days earlier, caught Uncle Mo inside the furlong grounds from the far outside, but couldn’t stave off the winner.

Norman Asbjornson finished fourth, 3 1/4 lengths behind Uno. Isn’t He Perfect finished fifth.