Captain Cook Eyes Wood memorial Glory

The Road to the Kentucky Derby is intensifying as St. Elias Stable’s captain Cook prepares to compete in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts world Casino at Aqueduct racetrack on April 5th. this nine-furlong race is a critical test for three-year-olds, offering valuable Kentucky Derby qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10 to the top five finishers). A strong performance could catapult a contender into the coveted Churchill Downs starting gate.

Captain Cook,trained by Rick Dutrow,Jr.,recently clocked a half-mile breeze in 49 seconds flat at Belmont Park,signaling his readiness. This was his sixth workout since his extraordinary victory in the Listed Withers Stakes on February 1st, where he earned 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Blake Dutrow, Dutrow Jr.’s nephew and Belmont-based assistant, confirmed the workout was a smooth “maintenance” exercise, emphasizing that the colt is primed for the challenge.

“It was mostly maintenance. he’s ready so we are just trying to keep him that way.”

Blake Dutrow, Dutrow, Jr.’s nephew and Belmont Park-based assistant

The Wood Memorial isn’t just about Derby dreams; it’s a showcase of talent across various distances and age groups. the April 5th card is packed with high-stakes races, including:

• The Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets: A seven-furlong sprint for older horses.
• The Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle: A nine-furlong race for sophomore fillies, offering Kentucky Oaks qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10).
• The grade 3, $175,000 Distaff: A seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.
• The listed $150,000 Excelsior: A 10-furlong race for older horses.

Dr. Eleanor Vance, a leading Thoroughbred racing analyst, emphasizes the importance of fitness for horses competing in races like the Wood Memorial.”The single most critical factor is fitness,” Dr. vance explains.”By ‘fitness,’ I mean a confluence of factors: a horse’s physical condition, their mental preparedness, and, crucially, their ability to handle the specific demands of the race distance.”

She further elaborates on Captain Cook’s potential: “Captain Cook is generating buzz as he shows both stamina and tactical speed. Moreover, he’s being trained by Rick Dutrow, who has experience with the prestigious Kentucky Derby, adding another layer of experience. Another significant factor is the horse successfully stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in the Withers, scoring by 2 1/4 lengths.”

Full Moon Madness Prepares for Carter Showdown

Adding to the excitement of the Carter Handicap, NYRA announced that Full Moon Madness is preparing for the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets.

Early On Targets Gazelle Stakes

The New York-bred filly Early On is highly likely to compete in the Grade 3 Gazelle. This nine-furlong race offers crucial Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, making it a significant target for sophomore fillies with aspirations of competing in the prestigious Oaks at Churchill Downs.

Early On, trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., has shown promise at longer distances. “She ran well both times going a mile and a sixteenth. The distance definitely helps her,” Joseph, Jr. noted. Her maiden score at Gulfstream Park earned her a career-best 71 Beyer Speed Figure, demonstrating her potential.

In her most recent start, the Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs, Early On faced adversity at the break but rallied to finish a close second. This effort earned her 25 Oaks qualifying points and a 69 Beyer. Joseph, Jr. believes that distance is key to her success: “Distance is going to be her forte. She needs nine furlongs, and she’ll even go a mile and a quarter. She’s very steady – one paced – but she keeps going. The distance at Aqueduct will help her a lot.”

while the Gazelle represents a fast turnaround for Early On, Joseph, Jr. remains optimistic, stating, “She’s coming back a bit quick, but so far, she’s doing well. If she works well this weekend, we’re going to give it a go.”

Early On’s pedigree also suggests stamina.Bred by john Lauriello, she is out of the Distorted Humor mare Sally O’Brien, a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Lipstick City. Her $20,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale could prove to be a bargain if she continues to develop.

Dr. Vance emphasizes the importance of the Gazelle Stakes for fillies aiming for the kentucky oaks. “Qualifying points are EVERYTHING,” she asserts. “The Kentucky Oaks, for fillies, is just as prestigious and competitive as the Derby.The Gazelle, along with other major prep races, distributes these points to the top finishers, determining who gets a spot in the starting gate. Early On, specifically, has a shot due to the distance in the Gazelle making it a significant target for her. The more points a filly earns,the higher her chances of making the oaks field. Consider it a complex ranking system that ensures only the best and most prepared horses compete. The 100-50-25-15-10 point system is a great way to ensure that.”

Bear Claw Necklace Considers Wood Memorial Bid

Another potential contender for the Wood Memorial is Peachtree Stable and Stefania Farms’ maiden winner, Bear Claw Necklace. Joseph,Jr., who won the 2023 Wood Memorial with longshot Lord Miles, is considering entering Bear Claw Necklace, but a final decision hinges on a key workout.

“He’s possible for the Wood, but I want to see how he works tommorow,” Joseph, Jr. explained. Bear Claw Necklace broke his maiden at second asking, sprinting seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on December 1st. He followed that with a distant third in a one-mile optional-claimer on March 9th. Joseph, Jr. acknowledged the impressive performance of the race’s winner, adding another layer of consideration to his decision.

Bear Claw Necklace’s pedigree boasts graded stakes connections. His graded stakes-placed second dam, Chasethegold, is a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Albertus Maximus and Daredevil. This lineage suggests potential for success at higher levels.

Dilger Aims for Carter Glory

Michael J. Ryan’s Dilger could also represent Joseph, Jr. on the Wood Memorial Day card,targeting the Grade 2 Carter presented by NYRA Bets. “He’s training well. He’s going to breeze tomorrow and all being well, we’ll give him a shot in the Carter,” Joseph, Jr. confirmed.

Dilger has already demonstrated graded stakes ability, finishing third in last year’s Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland. He recently won a six-furlong optional-claiming sprint at Gulfstream Park on March 2nd, showcasing his current form.

Joseph, Jr.’s Gulfstream Stakes Starters and Saratoga Plans

Before the Aqueduct spotlight, Joseph, Jr. will be busy at Gulfstream Park with a plethora of stakes starters, including White Abarrio, who is entered in the Grade 3 Ghostzapper. This race serves as a stepping stone towards the Grade 1, $1 million Hill ‘n’ Dale metropolitan Handicap on June 7th, a highlight of the Belmont stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

“He’s doing well.He’ll run in the Ghostzapper on Saturday and that is a prep for the met Mile which is an crucial one we’d like to win this year,” Joseph, Jr. stated.”So far, so good. Hopefully, he can have a fantastic year.”

Looking ahead to the summer, Joseph, Jr. plans to have a significant presence at Saratoga, aiming to build on his accomplished 2024 campaign. “We’re going to bring horses up early this year,” he said. “White Abarrio will come up early,too. he does well when he gets there early. We’ll have the most horses we’ve ever had at Saratoga this year.”

Joseph, Jr.emphasized the allure of Saratoga: “Everybody loves Saratoga. The weather is amazing, and the racing is great. It’s definitely a place you want to be. It worked good for us last year, having horses there early and we had a great meet. We want to repeat what worked.”

Quint’s Brew Targets carter; Alogon Eyes Elusive Quality

Maryland-bred quint’s Brew is also pointing towards the Grade 2 carter presented by NYRA Bets. Trained by Ned Allard, the four-year-old has been in impressive form, winning both his starts this year at Laurel Park. He earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for a six-length romp in the Jennings on January 18th and followed that with a 5 1/2-length score in the General George on February 15th, earning a career-best 101 Beyer.

“He’s coming off of two very good wins. He’s fresh and seven-eighths hits him in the head,” Allard said. “It’s stepping up a notch, but as nicely as he’s won his last two races, you have to give him a good shot in there depending on who else goes in.”

Allard added, “He’s impressed me, and he’s impressed the owners. Let’s hope he can keep on impressing us.”

quint’s Brew’s early career was also promising, winning his first two starts for trainer Michael Gorham before stepping into stakes company. After a troubled trip in the Star de Naskra, he was sidelined due to an injury.Allard believes the time off has benefited the horse.

“When I ran him the first time, he hadn’t run in six months so that was pretty impressive,” Allard said. “The Jennings was a one-turn mile, and he was very impressive. I thought he was going to run well that day, but he realy impressed me. He trains like a good horse and he’s certainly now running like one also.”

Charles T. Matses’ graded stakes-placed Alogon is preparing for the Listed $150,000 Elusive Quality, a six-furlong turf sprint on May 3rd at Belmont at the Big A. The six-year-old won a pair of Listed stakes last year and Allard is optimistic about his chances this year. “I gave him a little bit of a break and he came back and looks great. He’s training dynamite,” Allard said.

Allard also noted that graded stakes-winner Dean Delivers and graded stakes-placed Sunny breeze are also returning for a 2025 campaign, adding further depth to his stable.

“We have Dean Delivers back in training and Sunny Breeze is back and training well,” Allard said. “We’re pretty excited about the barn having a good year. We had a good year last year and I hope we can duplicate it.”

Strategic Differences Between Sprint and distance Races

The wood Memorial Day card also features the Grade 2 Carter Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint.Dr.Vance explains the strategic differences between sprint and distance races. “Sprint races,like the carter,demand explosive speed and tactical positioning from the outset,” she says.”The focus shifts – a sprinter’s training is usually more focused on speed than stamina. You aren’t building endurance; your maximizing acceleration. For the sprint, it’s all about maximizing initial burst and sustaining momentum through the final furlong.”

Key Considerations for bettors

For less experienced bettors, Dr. Vance offers valuable advice on analyzing these races. “Pay close attention to current form,” she advises. “Also note the horse’s recent races, workouts, and how they’ve performed recently. Don’t underestimate the impact of post position and track conditions, there are frequently enough many factors to consider. Pedigree matters, as it can give insights into potential stamina and preferred distances.”

She adds, “It’s a pivotal weekend for many horses. We could be witnessing the emergence of Kentucky Derby contenders, future Oaks stars, and all of this starting at Aqueduct. It really is a pivotal event for the future of racing!”