Study Guide: 2025 Wood Memorial

Apr 02, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Captain Cook wins the Withers at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos / Credit to Joe Labozzetta)

A dozen horses are slated to start in Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2), the last of six 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers taking place at Aqueduct.

With 100-50-25-15-10 qualification points up for grabs by the top five finishers, the Wood Memorial guarantees the winner and likely the runner-up a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate.

Let’s meet the field:

Rodriguez

Rodriguez wins at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Kingswood Farm and David Egan
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith

Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $122,800

Sire: Authentic
Dam: Cayala
Color: Dark bay/brown

Rodriguez has shown talent against tough competition in California, placing in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and San Felipe (G2) against highly acclaimed Kentucky Derby contenders Citizen Bull, Journalism, and Barnes. But drawing post 1 in the Wood Memorial may force this speedy colt to run hard early to avoid getting boxed up in traffic.

Captain Cook

Captain Cook wins the Withers at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Joe Labozzetta)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: St. Elias Stable
Breeder: Marylou Whitney Stables
Trainer: Rick Dutrow
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning the Withers S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $188,256

Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Pow Wow Wow
Color: Bay

Captain Cook won a fast edition of the Withers S. over this track and distance in February, prevailing by 2 1/4 lengths with a 100 Brisnet Speed rating. But like Rodriguez, Captain Cook is a speed horse drawn inside, and that could potentially lead to a tricky trip.

Captain Cook conquered the Withers Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct to earn 20 points on the Road to the @KentuckyDerby!

He also earned the TS Stable Alerts Horse of the Week and you can add him to your stable with the link below!

Never Miss A Winner ⤵️ https://t.co/uxNUy7vwBz pic.twitter.com/W5gUfLBbAw

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 4, 2025

Tiger Twenty Four

Tiger Twenty Four wins at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Peachtree Stable
Breeder: Peachtree Stable
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $57,400

Sire: Lord Nelson
Dam: Pakhet
Color: Chestnut

Tiger Twenty Four is yet another speed horse drawn to the inside, having recently employed pace-pressing tactics to dominate a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park by five lengths. He’s likely to encounter a faster pace in the Wood Memorial and may struggle to keep up in the early going.

My Mitole

My Mitole wins at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Half Hollow Stables
Breeder: William B. Harrigan
Trainer: Carlos Martin
Jockey: Luis Rivera Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing fourth in the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $108,350

Sire: Mitole
Dam: Board Battle
Color: Chestnut

My Mitole made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut in the one-mile Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, finishing fourth. He’ll need a step forward to turn the tables on Sand Devil, who finished 3 1/4 lengths ahead of My Mitole when second in the Gotham.

Sand Devil

Sand Devil wins at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Chester Broman Sr.
Breeder: Chester Broman and Mary R. Broman
Trainer: Linda Rice
Jockey: Jose Lezcano

Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $211,800

Sire: Violence
Dam: Mineralogist
Color: Chestnut

Sand Devil won his first three starts with strong Brisnet Speed ratings in the 95-97 range. He then posted another 97 when finishing second in the Gotham, his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut. Sand Devil’s pedigree suggests stretching out over 1 1/8 miles won’t be an issue, so another strong showing is likely in the cards.

Flood Zone was an impressive winner on Saturday in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

He earned 50 points on the Road to the @KentuckyDerby and honors of TS Stable Alerts Horse of the Week!

Add him to your stable with the link below!

Never Miss A Winner⤵️ https://t.co/3lpo8u1BOu pic.twitter.com/SCCxxJVcSv

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 4, 2025

Hill Road

Hill Road works our ahead of Breeders' Cup races. (Photo by Horsephtos.com)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Amo Racing USA
Breeder: Lynch Bages and Camas Park Stud
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $226,606

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Exotic Notion
Color: Bay

Hill Road ran strongly when rallying for third place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), earning a 101 Brisnet Speed rating that tops the Wood Memorial field. He started 2025 with a rallying third-place finish against a quality field in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and has a strong chance to improve in his second start of the season. If a quick pace unfolds as expected in the Wood Memorial, Hill Road can rally his way to the winner’s circle.

Grande

Grande wins at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Angelo Lieto)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: KatieRich Farms
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $88,200

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Journey Home
Color: Dark bay/brown

Grande is unbeaten in two starts for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won the Wood Memorial seven times. Grande exits a win over the Wood Memorial distance in a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park and has a strong chance to challenge even while stepping up in class at Aqueduct.

Passion Rules

Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. Charles McGinnes
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning an Oaklawn Park $200,000 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $114,600

Sire: Friesan Fire
Dam: Goodnight Angel
Color: Bay

Passion Rules is undefeated in three starts, most notably rallying to win a $200,000 allowance optional claimer racing 1 1/16 miles. But his career-best 85 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the Wood Memorial field.

Bear Claw Necklace

Bear Claw Necklace wins at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Peachtree Stable and Stefania Farms
Breeder: Spendthrift Farm
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Romero Maragh

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $36,470

Sire: Lord Nelson
Dam: Goldrush Girl
Color: Bay

Bear Claw Necklace exits a third-place finish in a one-mile $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. His lone victory came in a sprint, and he’ll need to show more stamina to challenge over 1 1/8 miles in the Wood Memorial.

McAfee

McAfee wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stable, Judy B. Hicks, and Scott C. Rice
Breeder: Judy Hicks
Trainer: Rick Dutrow Jr.
Jockey: Eric Cancel

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing fifth in the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $80,880

Sire: Cloud Computing
Dam: Sataves
Color: Dark bay/brown

McAfee passed a couple of rivals when finishing fifth in the Gotham, his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut. That marked his first start off a three-month layoff, and sharp workouts since then suggest there’s a chance McAfee will improve in his second start of the year.

Statesman

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and CJ Stables
Breeder: St. Elias Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Samuel Marin

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning a Tampa Bay Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $53,450

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Icon Project
Color: Bay

Statesman has won two starts in a row for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, including a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs. The Wood Memorial is a tougher race, but Statesman is progressing in the right direction and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Omaha Omaha

Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 3

Owner: On Your Left Racing
Breeder: On Your Left Racing
Trainer: Michael Gorham
Jockey: Raul Mena

Top Speed Rating: (95) when finishing third in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.
Total Earnings: $209,800

Sire: Audible
Dam: England Swings
Color: Bay

Consistent stretch-runner Omaha Omaha has finished second in the Jerome S., third in the Withers S., and third in the Virginia Derby on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Wood Memorial is a tougher spot, but a top-five finish isn’t out of the question, especially if Omaha Omaha receives a fast pace to chase.