The Wood Memorial is a Grade 2 stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbreds that takes place annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. It is one of the most important prep races leading up to the Kentucky Derby, and many of the top contenders for the Run for the Roses have used the Wood Memorial as a stepping stone to success.
This year’s Wood Memorial features a field of nine horses, including the morning line favorite, Greatest Honour. However, one horse that has been generating a lot of buzz leading up to the race is Hit Show, who drew the outside post position and has been given odds of 15-1.
The outside post position is often considered a disadvantage in horse racing, as it forces the horse to run farther than its competitors and can make it difficult to save ground on the turns. However, Hit Show’s trainer, Juan Carlos Guerrero, is not too concerned about the draw.
“We’re not worried about the post position,” Guerrero said. “He’s a horse that likes to be outside anyway. He’s got a long stride and he likes to run freely.”
Hit Show has only raced three times in his career, but he has shown a lot of potential. He broke his maiden in impressive fashion at Aqueduct in January, winning by 10 lengths. He then finished second in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park before returning to Aqueduct for the Gotham Stakes, where he finished third behind Highly Motivated and Freedom Fighter.
Despite his lack of experience, Hit Show has been working well in the mornings and could be a major player in the Wood Memorial. However, he will have to overcome some tough competition if he wants to win.
Greatest Honour has won his last three starts, including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February. He is trained by Shug McGaughey, who won the Kentucky Derby with Orb in 2013, and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, who won the Wood Memorial in 2018 aboard Vino Rosso.
Another top contender is Risk Taking, who won the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct in February. He is trained by Chad Brown, who has won the Wood Memorial twice before, and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., who won the race last year aboard Tacitus.
Other horses in the field include Brooklyn Strong, who won the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in December, and Weyburn, who won the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in March.
The Wood Memorial is a crucial race for these three-year-olds as they prepare for the Kentucky Derby. The winner will earn 100 points towards qualifying for the Run for the Roses, which is usually enough to secure a spot in the starting gate.
The race is set to take place on Saturday, April 3, and will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network. It promises to be an exciting and competitive race, with Hit Show looking to overcome his challenging post position and odds to make a name for himself on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
