13 Kentucky Derby hopefuls will run on Saturday at Aqueduct in the Wood Memorial

By NY Hot List staff | Thursday, April 4, 2024

The Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on Saturday drew a field of 13 Kentucky Derby hopefuls that will run in the final of six qualifying races that were run at Aqueduct. Deterministic will be the clear favorite based on his impressive victory in last month’s Gotham (G2). The Christophe Clement trainee should appreciate the increased distance of 1 1/8 miles.

“He’s trained very well all year long and came back very well, very straightforward,” Clement said of Deterministic’s development from two to three. “All his works have been very good and he’s a very athletic kind of horse – the most beautiful mover. He barely touches the ground and moves like a cat. He’s good mentally, too.” 

The son of Liam’s Map stayed unbeaten after two starts when he won the Gotham on a sloppy and sealed track. A fast racing surface is expected by Saturday.

“It was a very good race and a good field over a wet track – he handled the whole thing very well,” said Clement, who looks to make it to the Kentucky Derby for the first time in his accomplished career. “It will be interesting to see him going two turns. We’ll just go one step at a time. You never know until you try, but his style of racing and the way he trains makes you believe he should stay.”

The $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 10, 4:07 pm EDT.

(4) Deterministic is undefeated in two starts with his maiden victory at Saratoga and then his win in the Gotham (G3) going the one-turn mile. The way he travelled in his last start the added distance should not be a problem. He already has enough qualifying points to give his trainer Christophe Clement his first Kentucky Derby runner. (9) Tuscan Sky also won his first two starts in a sprint at Aqueduct in January and then an allowance going two turns at Fair Grounds. Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Wood seven times. (13) Uncle Heavy shipped up from Parx to win the Withers (G3) going the nine-furlong distance but did not get a positive post-position draw. (1) Resilience looks like a late-developing colt for Bill Mott that won his maiden two races back at Gulfstream Park and looked good running fourth in the Risen Star (G2) behind three horses that won on the Kentucky Derby trail.

The rest of the NY Hot List picks and the Special Saturday Pick 3 are available free of charge at this website.