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
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Wood Memorial Stakes Past Winners
1990 Thirty Six Red Mike E. Smith Nick Zito 01:50.4
1991 Cahill Road Craig Perret Scotty Schulhofer 01:48.4
1992 Devil His Due Mike E. Smith H. Allen Jerkens 01:49.2
1993 Storm Tower Rick Wilson Ben W. Perkins, Jr. 01:48.4
1994 Irgun Gary Stevens Steven W. Young 01:49.0
1995 Talkin Man Shane Sellers Roger Attfield 01:49.2
1996 Unbridled's Song Mike E. Smith James T. Ryerson 01:49.8
1997 Captain Bodgit Alex Solis Gary Capuano 01:48.2
1998 Coronado's Quest Robbie Davis C. R. McGaughey III 01:47.4
1999 Adonis Jorge Chavez Nick Zito 01:47.6
2000 Fusaichi Pegasus Kent Desormeaux Neil D. Drysdale 01:47.8
2001 Congaree Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert 01:47.8
2002 Buddha Pat Day H. James Bond 01:48.6
2003 Empire Maker Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel 01:48.6
2004 Tapit Ramon A. Dominguez Michael W. Dickinson 01:49.6
2005 Bellamy Road Javier Castellano Nick Zito 01:47.2
2006 Bob and John Garrett Gomez Bob Baffert 01:51.5
2007 Nobiz Like Shobiz Cornelio Velasquez Barclay Tagg 01:49.5
2008 Tale of Ekati Edgar Prado Barclay Tagg 01:52.4
2009 I Want Revenge Joseph Talamo Jeff Mullins 01:49.5
2010 Eskendereya John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher 01:50.0
2011 Toby's Corner Eddie Castro H. Graham Motion 01:49.9
2012 Gemologist Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher 01:51.0
2013 Verrazano John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher 01:50.3