The Wood Memorial is currently one of five Grade I races that serve as prep races for the US Triple Crown. The others include the Blue Grass Stakes, Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby and the Arkansas Derby. Oddly, the Wood Memorial sends less first place finishers to the Kentucky Derby than the other races mentioned for various reasons (injuries, etc.)
Wood Memorial Stakes Race Information
Location: Aqueduct Racetrack - Ozone Park, Queens, New York
Inaugural Race: 1925
Race type: Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Distance 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)
Track: Dirt, Left-handed
Qualification: Three-year-olds
Weight: 123 lbs (55.8 kg)
Purse: $1,000,000
Grade I
2014 Wood Memorial
Top horses expected to start in the Wood Memorial, are Samraat, Uncle Sigh and Social Inclusion. Samraat's victory over Uncle Sigh went down from one length in the Withers Stakes to a neck in the Gotham Stakes, what will happen when the two meet again at the Big A? In other news, Honor Code, will miss the Wood Memorial on April 5 and the Derby a month later because of a slight ligament tear.
Bet on the Wood Memorial Stakes
US Racing features race analysis, interviews, free handicapping tips and stories on the trainers, jockeys, owners and horses that make up the colorful sport of horse racing. US Racing features the best tracks in the United States, including Churchill Downs, Belmont, Pimlico, Saratoga, Del Mar and Santa Anita. Internationally, US Racing offers content from Australia, Dubai, Great Britain, Ireland and Japan.
US Racing - The Official OTB of the USA. Join US Racing and bet on Stakes Races today!
Wood Memorial Stakes Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Vino Rosso | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable | 1:49.79 |
| 2017 | Irish War Cry | Rajiv Maragh | H. Graham Motion | Isabelle de Tomaso | 1:50.91 |
| 2016 | Outwork | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1:52.92 |
| 2015 | Frosted | Joel Rosario | Kiaran McLaughlin | Godolphin Racing | 1:50.31 |
| 2014 | Wicked Strong | Rajiv Maragh | James Jerkens | Centennial Farms | 1:49.31 |
| 2013 | Verrazano | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Let's Go Stables | 1:50.27 |
| 2012 | Gemologist | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1:50.96 |
| 2011 | Toby's Corner | Eddie Castro | H. Graham Motion | Dianne Cotter | 1:49.93 |
| 2010 | Eskendereya | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Zayat Stables | 1:49.97 |
| 2009 | I Want Revenge | Joseph Talamo | Jeff Mullins | IEAH | 1:49.49 |
| 2008 | Tale of Ekati | Edgar Prado | Barclay Tagg | Charles E. Fipke | 1:52.35 |
| 2007 | Nobiz Like Shobiz | Cornelio Velasquez | Barclay Tagg | Elizabeth J. Valando | 1:49.46 |
| 2006 | Bob and John | Garrett Gomez | Bob Baffert | Stonerside Stable | 1:51.54 |
| 2005 | Bellamy Road | Javier Castellano | Nick Zito | Kinsman Stable | 1:47.16 |
| 2004 | Tapit | Ramon A. Dominguez | Michael W. Dickinson | Ronald Winchell | 1:49.60 |
| 2003 | Empire Maker | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1:48.60 |
| 2002 | Buddha | Pat Day | H. James Bond | Gary and Mary West | 1:48.60 |
| 2001 | Congaree | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Stonerside Stable | 1:47.80 |
| 2000 | Fusaichi Pegasus | Kent Desormeaux | Neil D. Drysdale | Fusao Sekiguchi | 1:47.80 |
| 1999 | Adonis | Jorge Chavez | Nick Zito | Paraneck Stable | 1:47.60 |
| 1998 | Coronado's Quest | Robbie Davis | C. R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III | 1:47.40 |
| 1997 | Captain Bodgit | Alex Solis | Gary Capuano | Team Valor | 1:48.20 |
| 1996 | Unbridled's Song | Mike E. Smith | James T. Ryerson | Paraneck Stable | 1:49.80 |
| 1995 | Talkin Man | Shane Sellers | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:49.20 |
| 1994 | Irgun | Gary Stevens | Steven W. Young | B.& M. Chase | 1:49.00 |
| 1993 | Storm Tower | Rick Wilson | Ben W. Perkins, Jr. | Char-Mari Stable | 1:48.40 |
| 1992 | Devil His Due | Mike E. Smith | H. Allen Jerkens | Lion Crest Stable | 1:49.20 |
| 1991 | Cahill Road | Craig Perret | Scotty Schulhofer | Frances A. Genter | 1:48.40 |
| 1990 | Thirty Six Red | Mike E. Smith | Nick Zito | B. Giles Brophy | 1:50.40 |
| 1989 | Easy Goer | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1:50.60 |
| 1988 | Private Terms | Chris Antley | Charles Hadry | Locust Hill Farm | 1:47.20 |
| 1987 | Gulch | Jose Santos | LeRoy Jolley | Peter M. Brant | 1:49.00 |
| 1986 | Broad Brush | Vincent Bracciale, Jr. | Richard W. Small | Robert E. Meyerhoff | 1:50.60 |
| 1985 | Eternal Prince | Richard Migliore | John J. Lenzini, Jr. | Brian J. Hurst | 1:48.80 |
| 1984 | Leroy S. | Jean Cruguet | Jan Nerud | John A. Nerud | 1:51.40 |
| 1983 | Bounding Basque | Gregg McCarron | Woody Sedlacek | Jacques Wimpfheimer | 1:51.00 |
| 1983 | Slew o' Gold | Eddie Maple | Sidney Watters, Jr. | Equusequity Stable | 1:51.40 |
| 1982 | Air Forbes Won | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Frank LaBoccetta | Edward Anchel | 1:51.00 |
| 1981 | Pleasant Colony | Jeffrey Fell | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | 1:49.60 |
| 1980 | Plugged Nickle | Buck Thornburg | Thomas J. Kelly | John M. Schiff | 1:50.80 |
| 1979 | Instrument Landing | Angel Cordero, Jr. | David A. Whiteley | Pen-Y-Bryn Farm | 1:49.20 |
| 1978 | Believe It | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Hickory Tree Stable | 1:49.80 |
| 1977 | Seattle Slew | Jean Cruguet | William H. Turner, Jr. | Karen L. Taylor | 1:49.60 |
| 1976 | Bold Forbes | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Laz Barrera | E. Rodriguez Tizol | 1:47.40 |
| 1975 | Foolish Pleasure | Jacinto Vasquez | LeRoy Jolley | John L. Greer | 1:48.80 |
| 1974 | Flip Sal | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Stephen A. DiMauro | Salvatore Tufano | 1:51.40 |
| 1974 | Rube The Great | Miguel A. Rivera | Pancho Martin | Sigmund Sommer | 1:49.60 |
| 1973 | Angle Light | Jacinto Vasquez | Lucien Laurin | Edwin Whittaker | 1:49.80 |
| 1972 | Upper Case | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1:49.00 |
| 1971 | Good Behaving | Chuck Baltazar | John P. Campo | Neil Hellman | 1:49.80 |
| 1970 | Personality | Eddie Belmonte | John W. Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:49.40 |
| 1969 | Dike | Jorge Velasquez | Lucien Laurin | Claiborne Farm | 1:49.60 |
| 1968 | Dancer's Image | Bobby Ussery | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Peter D. Fuller | 1:49.00 |
| 1967 | Damascus | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr. | Edith W. Bancroft | 1:49.60 |
| 1966 | Amberoid | William Boland | Lucien Laurin | Reginald N. Webster | 1:49.60 |
| 1965 | Flag Raiser | Bobby Ussery | Hirsch Jacobs | Isidor Bieber | 1:50.20 |
| 1964 | Quadrangle | Bill Hartack | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1:50.20 |
| 1963 | No Robbery | John L. Rotz | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:49.20 |
| 1962 | Admiral's Voyage | Braulio Baeza | Charles R. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 1:49.20 |
| 1961 | Globemaster | John L. Rotz | Thomas J. Kelly | Leonard P. Sasso | 1:50.20 |
| 1960 | Francis S. | Bill Shoemaker | Burley Parke | Harbor View Farm | 1:50.20 |
| 1959 | Manassa Mauler | Ray Broussard | Pancho Martin | Emil Dolce | 1:49.60 |
| 1958 | Jewel's Reward | Eddie Arcaro | Ivan H. Parke | Maine Chance Farm | 1:50.20 |
| 1957 | Bold Ruler | Eddie Arcaro | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1:48.80 |
| 1956 | Head Man | Eddie Arcaro | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 1:50.20 |
| 1955 | Nashua | Ted Atkinson | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:50.60 |
| 1954 | Correlation | Bill Shoemaker | Noble Threewitt | Robert S. Lytle | 1:50.00 |
| 1953 | Native Dancer | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:50.60 |
| 1952 | Master Fiddle | David Gorman | Sol Rutchick | Myhelen Stable | 1:52.40 |
| 1951 | Repetoire | Pete McLean | Albert Jensen | Nora A. Mikell | 1:44.40 |
| 1950 | Hill Prince | Eddie Arcaro | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 1:43.60 |
| 1949 | Olympia | Eddie Arcaro | Ivan H. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 1:45.00 |
| 1948 | My Request | Douglas Dodson | James P. Conway | Mrs. Ben F. Whitaker | 1:46.20 |
| 1947 | Phalanx | Eddie Arcaro | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 1:43.80 |
| 1947 | I Will | Eddie Arcaro | Sidney Jacobs | Jaclyn Stable | 1:45.00 |
| 1946 | Assault | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:46.60 |
| 1945 | Jeep | Arnold Kirkland | Lydell T. Ruff | C. V. Whitney | 1:45.80 |
| 1945 | Hoop Jr. | Eddie Arcaro | Ivan H. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 1:45.00 |
| 1944 | Lucky Draw | Johnny Longden | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener, Jr. | 1:46.20 |
| 1944 | Stir Up | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:44.20 |
| 1943 | Count Fleet | Johnny Longden | Don Cameron | Fannie Hertz | 1:43.00 |
| 1942 | Requested | Wayne D. Wright | Blackie McCoole | Mrs. Ben F. Whitaker | 1:45.20 |
| 1941 | Market Wise | Don Meade | George W. Carroll | Louis Tufano | 1:45.60 |
| 1940 | Dit | Leon Haas | Max Hirsch | W. Arnold Hanger | 1:45.80 |
| 1939 | Johnstown | James Stout | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:42.00 |
| 1938 | Fighting Fox | James Stout | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:43.00 |
| 1937 | Melodist | Johnny Longden | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1:42.80 |
| 1936 | Teufel | Herbert Litzenberger | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1:43.20 |
| 1935 | Today | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney | 1:42.80 |
| 1934 | High Quest | Dominick Bellizzi | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 1:43.80 |
| 1933 | Mr. Khayyam | Pete Walls | Matthew Peter Brady | Catawba Farm | 1:42.60 |
| 1932 | Universe | Linus McAtee | Joseph Bauer | Thomas M. Cassidy | 1:43.00 |
| 1931 | Twenty Grand | Charley Kurtsinger | James G. Rowe, Jr. | Greentree Stable | 1:42.60 |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:43.60 |
| 1929 | Essare | Mack Garner | Joe Johnson | Jacques Stable | 1:44.00 |
| 1928 | Distraction | Danny McAuliffe | George Tappen | Wheatley Stable | 1:46.00 |
| 1927 | Saxon | George Ellis | James G. Rowe, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:43.60 |
| 1926 | Pompey | Bennie Breuning | William H. Karrick | William R. Coe | 1:42.00 |
| 1925 | Backbone | Ivan H. Parke | James G. Rowe, Sr. | H. P. Whitney | 1:43.40 |