Takeaways from 2024 Wood Memorial

Apr 09, 2024 James Scully

The Road to the Kentucky Derby made its final stop in New York for the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) on April 6. The 1 1/8-mile race at Aqueduct offered points on a 100-50-25-15-10 manner to the top five respective finishers, and the Wood will look to produce its first Kentucky Derby (G1) winner since Funny Cide in 2003.

Here are three takeaways from the Wood Memorial.

Resilience steps forward with first-time blinkers

A convincing maiden winner two starts previously, Resilience recorded a commendable fourth when making his stakes debut in a deep Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17, and jockey John Velazquez felt the up-and-coming colt lost confidence when another runner crossed in front of him in upper stretch. He suggested adding blinkers to Bill Mott and the equipment change paid dividends in the Wood, as Resilience drove to a 2 1/4-length decision.

Velazquez is committed to Fierceness, so Resilience will need a new jockey for the Kentucky Derby. The Wood Memorial didn’t appear to be one of the strongest prep races and Resilience won’t rank among the top tier of Kentucky Derby win contenders, but the progressing sophomore has something going for him.

Resilience earned a 104 Brisnet Speed rating in the Wood, the second-best number from 23 Kentucky Derby qualifiers in 2024. The Risen Star experience benefitted him, as well as the addition of blinkers, and the bay will be a candidate to keep advancing at Churchill Downs. Mott can get a horse to peak on the first Saturday in May, with Country House being elevated to first via disqualification at 65-1 odds in 2019, and Resilience is by Into Mischief, who has already sired a pair of Kentucky Derby winners.

A pace-tracking trip carried Resilience to a 2 1/4-length win in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, stamping the bay colt as a viable Kentucky Derby (G1) contender.#KyDerby150 #PedigreeProfile ⬇️ https://t.co/EkFzVPpMFg

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 8, 2024

Risen Star impact

The Risen Star has produced a top-three finisher in the Kentucky Derby the last five years, including a pair of winners. And it’s been the deepest prep in 2024, yielding three winners and a runner-up from eight major qualifiers.

Risen Star winner Sierra Leone looks poised to vie for Kentucky Derby favoritism following a strong win in the Blue Grass (G1). Catching Freedom and Honor Marie came back to finish 1-2 in the Louisiana Derby (G2) after finishing third and fifth in the Risen Star. Track Phantom, who finished second in the Risen Star and fourth in the Louisiana Derby, also ranks inside the top 20 with 70 qualifying points.

This year’s Risen Star will be responsible for 25% of the Kentucky Derby field.

Longshots fill superfecta; Society Man qualifies at 106-1, Deterministic falters

After finishing eighth of nine runners as a maiden in the Feb. 3 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct, Society Man graduated in a one-mile maiden special weight five weeks later. But it wasn’t a fast performance, and the Danny Gargan-trained gelding was overlooked at 106-1 returning to stakes competition in the Wood.

Society Man stalked an up close in fifth, advanced to behind the winner on the far turn, and held second through the stretch drive in a surprising performance. It was another 1 1/2 lengths to 38-1 Protective, who is still winless for Todd Pletcher after three career starts. Lonesome Boy, a Washington-bred who earned his first win in a $40,000 maiden claimer at Parx in December, came next in fourth at 80-1.

Deterministic, the odds-on favorite for Christophe Clement following a well-regarded win in the Gotham (G3), appeared to be in a favorable stalking position before coming up empty on the far turn, weakening to eighth. Now 2-for-3 overall, Deterministic was the only runner with the necessary qualifying points entering the Wood, but his Kentucky Derby status is in limbo following the disappointing performance.