A competitive field of a dozen were entered (with 11 running) in the 2025 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, a key final prep for the Run for the Roses.
The Wood offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers. First post is 12:10 ET with the Wood the 12th of 13 races on the card. There is light rain in the forecast for Saturday and light rain possible on Thursday and Friday in New York.
It was announced on Thursday that the Chad Brown trained Hill Road (my original top pick) spiked a fever and will scratch.
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Baffert Has Morning Line Favorite
The Bob Baffert trained Rodriguez was installed as the 5-2 morning line and breaks from the rail under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. The colt was beaten 11 ¼ lengths when third behind Journalism in the San Felipe (G2) in his last outing at Santa Anita on March 1.
“I think he’s very talented. He just needs to break well and get a good trip,” said Baffert. “He’s been doing well. He came back and worked well, and I thought the Wood would be a good spot for him.”
Baffert has visited the winner’s circle twice after the Wood, in 2001 with Congaree, and Bob and John in 2006.
Vying for favoritism is the Rick Dutrow trained Captain Cook (7-2). The son of Practical Joke won the Withers over the Big A main track at nine furlongs on Feb. 1. He broke his maiden in the slop two back going seven furlongs in his second career outing.
He put in a big run going one mile and an eighth, which was tough, and he nailed it,” Dutrow said. “We set him up for another two-turn race and it happened to be this race in two months, which is beautiful because I love time.”
Other Wood Memorial Contenders
Other contenders include the Linda Rice trained Sand Devil (8-1), who was second in the Gotham (G2), and the undefeated Grande (5-1) from the Todd Pletcher barn who makes his stakes debut.
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Derby points are also on the line at Keeneland. A field of seven will head to the gate in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2).
2025 Wood Memorial Selections and Analysis
Let’s head out to Aqueduct for selections and analysis for the 2025 Wood Memorial:
(Selections updated on Thursday after the scratch of Hill Road)
Aqueduct Race 12 The Wood Memorial (G2) Post time 6:10 ET
2 Captain Cook 7-2
5 Sand Devil 8-1
1 Rodriguez 5-2
7 Grande 5-1
Captain Cook
This colt is perfect in two starts since landing with Dutrow. Hill Road was originally my top pick but will scratch leaving us with a logical pick here. He broke his maiden in the slop at seven furlongs in his second career start here. He then was a smart looking winner of the Withers going nine furlongs as the favorite last out. It was not the toughest of fields, but the fifth-place finisher Uncle Jim did come back to beat optional claimers in his next start on Feb. 28.
The colt has moved forward in each outing, is proven over a wet track as well as the distance. The colt should get a dream trip sitting just off the pace and will be tough in this spot. Looks like we will be lucky to get 5-2 on this guy.
Sand Devil
The Rice trainee won his first three starts beating up on New York breds and put in a decent effort in his runner up finish in the Gotham (G3) last out at a mile. He figures to be in the mix early but needs to avoid getting into an early pace duel with Rodriguez to have a legit shot to win here. Decent value if he goes off near his 8-1 morning line.
