Study Guide: 2026 Wood Memorial

Apr 01, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Napoleon Solo wins the Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct is a top-tier Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers.

Through the decades, six future Triple Crown winners (Gallant Fox, Omaha, Count Fleet, Assault, Secretariat, and Seattle Slew) have used the Wood Memorial as a springboard to success in the Kentucky Derby.

Let’s meet the horses entered in the 2026 Wood Memorial:

Napoleon Solo

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

Owner: Gold Square
Breeder: John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock
Trainer: Chad Summers
Jockey: Paco Lopez

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $330,520

Sire: Liam’s Map
Dam: Atomic Blonde
Color: Gray/roan

Napoleon Solo impressed in the one-mile Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct last year, setting a fast pace on his way to victory by 6 1/2 lengths. But he faltered when making his 2026 debut in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, tiring to finish a distant fifth. Will returning to Aqueduct trigger a rebound? Or will the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Wood Memorial prove farther than Napoleon Solo wants to run? The most accomplished Wood Memorial entrant is also the biggest wildcard in the field.

Talk to Me Jimmy

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

Owner: SEI Thoroughbreds, Rudy R. Rodriguez, and Michael Imperio
Breeder: Majestic View Farms Intl.
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Jockey: Ruben Silvera

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Withers S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $163,600

Sire: Modernist
Dam: Prairie Trip
Color: Bay

Talk to Me Jimmy was tons the best in the 1 1/8-mile Withers S. at Aqueduct, leading all the way to win by 11 lengths. But on that occasion, the track played in favor of his frontrunning style. Talk to Me Jimmy isn’t guaranteed to receive a similarly favorable setup in the Wood Memorial.

Right to Party

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

Owner: Chester Broman Sr.
Breeder: Tony Holmes and Timothy C. Thornton
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Christopher Elliott

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing third in the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $90,200

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Havin’ a Party
Color: Chestnut

Right to Party made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut in the one-mile Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, finishing third by 7 1/2 lengths against Wood Memorial rival Iron Honor. He’ll need improvement to turn the tables.

Steel

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

Owner: L. Barrett Bernard and Terry L. Stephens
Breeder: L. Barrett Bernard
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Sahin Civaci

Top Speed Rating: (83) when winning a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $40,800

Sire: Tapit
Dam: Snuggs and Kisses
Color: Gray/roan

Steel has only run once, rallying to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park by a nose. However, a decelerating pace helped him catch up, and the 83 Brisnet Speed rating he received looks light against the Wood Memorial field.

Ocelli

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

Owner: Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate, and Front Page Equestrian
Breeder: Rosedown Racing Stables
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Joseph Ramos

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing sixth in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.
Total Earnings: $34,800

Sire: Connect
Dam: Zalia
Color: Bay

Ocelli has started twice on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing sixth in the Sam F. Davis S. and sixth in the Virginia Derby. He’ll need a step forward to vie for victory in the Wood Memorial, though a top-five finish isn’t out of the question.

Minorinconvenience

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

Owner: Amelia J. Green, Amanda L. Gillman, and Upland Flats Racing
Breeder: Steve Barberino
Trainer: Amelia Green
Jockey: Jaime Rodriguez

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $160,350

Sire: Mendelssohn
Dam: Skyler’s Lil Cutie
Color: Gray/roan

Minorinconvenience has run well in races restricted to horses bred in New York, winning the six-furlong Funny Cide S. and finishing second in the one-mile Gander S. But the competition is deeper in the Wood Memorial, and stretching out over 1 1/8 miles is a question mark.

Albus

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

Owner: Pin Oak Stud
Breeder: Susan Casner
Trainer: Riley Mott
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $36,288

Sire: Yaupon
Dam: Adream
Color: Dark bay/brown

After losing his first two starts, Albus romped by 6 3/4 lengths in a one-mile and 40-yard maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs. He’s progressing in the right direction, but must improve upon his career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating to win the Wood Memorial.

Courting

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

Owner: Whisper Hill Farm, Stonestreet Stables, and Windancer Farm
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing fourth in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $71,850

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Cavorting
Color: Chestnut

Courting has shown flashes of talent for seven-time Wood Memorial-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, most notably finishing fast to win a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct. However, his first two forays on the Road to the Kentucky Derby produced a fourth in the Remsen (G2) and a sixth in the Risen Star (G2), so Courting needs a step forward to challenge for victory in the Wood Memorial.

Bravaro

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

Owner: Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie S. Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables, and Paul Braverman
Breeder: Stephanie Baltzan
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez

Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing second in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $222,700

Sire: Upstart
Dam: Opera Star
Color: Bay

Bravaro ran well against tough competition during the winter at Gulfstream Park, finishing second in the Holy Bull (G3) and fourth with a troubled trip in the Fountain of Youth (G2). The winner of the latter race, Commandment, came back to take the Florida Derby (G1). Bravaro went 2-for-2 at Aqueduct last year and is a major threat to win the Wood Memorial.

Red Zone Runner

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

Owner: Tom Coulter
Breeder: Arrowwood Farm
Trainer: Hugo Padilla
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the City of Brotherly Love S. at Parx Racing.
Total Earnings: $111,950

Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Look Deep
Color: Dark bay/brown

Red Zone Runner was tons the best in the 1 1/16-mile City of Brotherly Love S. at Parx last month, leading all the way to win by 15 1/2 lengths. But he appeared to benefit from racing over a sloppy track that favored horses racing along the inside. He may not repeat that performance while facing tougher competition over a (presumably) fair track at Aqueduct.

Ottinho

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

Owner: Three Chimneys Farm
Breeder: Three Chimneys Farm
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning an Aqueduct maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $80,950

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Quiet Giant
Color: Bay

Ottinho is expected to scratch and compete in Saturday’s Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland instead.

Buetane

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

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: Merriebelle Stable
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia

Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $260,500

Sire: Tiz the Law
Dam: Taboo
Color: Chestnut

Buetane has run well against tough competition, finishing second in the Hopeful (G1), the San Vicente (G2), and third in the Southwest (G3). But his best performances have come in sprints, and he was beaten to fourth place in the 1 1/8-mile Virginia Derby last month. Tackling 1 1/8 miles again in the Wood Memorial may stretch the limits of Buetane’s stamina.

Iron Honor

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

Owner: St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence, and Glassman Racing
Breeder: Mike Freeny and Pat Freeny
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning a maiden special weight at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $211,750

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Orencia
Color: Bay

Iron Honor is unbeaten in two starts, both at Aqueduct. After winning a six-furlong maiden special weight with a strong 99 Brisnet Speed rating, he earned a 95 when taking the one-mile Gotham (G3) in determined fashion. If Iron Honor can avoid losing ground around the turns while starting from the far outside post position, he’ll be tough to beat in the Wood Memorial.

KENTUCKY DERBY PROFILE: IRON HONOR

One mile was just the appetizer.

With Nyquist × Blame stamina in his blood, 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs could be his main course. 🌹

Is this your sneaky @KentuckyDerby horse? 👀 @j_keelerman

Read more: https://t.co/Hkn5PptRFn pic.twitter.com/MTq0qSkcRx

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 4, 2026