Wood Memorial

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA 100-50-25-15-10
April 4, 2026

Wood Memorial Stakes Race History 

Inaugurated in 1925, the Wood Memorial (G2) has long been an important proving ground for Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders. Originally held over a mile and 70 yards (and later 1 1/16 miles) at Jamaica Race Course, the Wood Memorial is named in memory of the late Eugene D. Wood, a New York politician who served as Jamaica’s president for over two decades.

The Wood Memorial wasted no time cementing Wood’s name in the annals of racing history. During an unforgettable golden age spanning 1930 through 1951, the Wood Memorial produced no fewer than nine Kentucky Derby winners. Triple Crown champions Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), Count Fleet (1943), and Assault (1946) were the stars of the show, but Twenty Ground (1931), Johnstown (1939), Hoop Jr. (1945), Middgleground (1950), and Count Turf (1951) also enhanced the Wood Memorial’s early legacy.

The Wood Memorial underwent its first dry spell between 1952 and 1972, during which only one Kentucky Derby winner (Carry Back, 1961) used the race as a prep for his signature victory under the Twin Spires. It was a time of upheaval for the Wood Memorial; the race was lengthened from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles in 1952 and shifted from Jamaica to Aqueduct in 1960.

However, a fiery chestnut soon set the race back on track. Although Secretariat was beaten in third in the 1973 Wood Memorial, the legendary superhorse quickly rebounded with a record-shattering sweep of the Triple Crown. During the ensuing decade, Foolish Pleasure (1975), Bold Forbes (1976), Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew (1977), famous filly Genuine Risk (1980), and Pleasant Colony (1981) all followed Secretariat’s path to Derby glory, with all but Genuine Risk winning both the Wood Memorial and the Run for the Roses.

This flurry of activity preceded another lengthy dry spell. More than a dozen years passed before Wood Memorial runner-up Go for Gin sprung an upset in the 1994 Kentucky Derby. The early 2000s witnessed a temporary return to form as the Wood Memorial produced three Derby winners in four years: Fusaichi Pegasus (2000), Monarchos (2001), and Funny Cide (2003). But the remainder of the decade was quiet, and in the 2010s not a single Wood Memorial starter visited the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle.

The COVID-19 outbreak prompted the cancelation of the 2020 Wood Memorial, starting the new decade on a down note. But as a final-tier Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race awarding 170 qualification points (100-50-25-15-10) to the top four finishers, it’s likely just a matter of time before the Wood Memorial bounces back to its glory day.

By J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

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Entries

Jockey

Owner

Trainer

Current odds

Wagers

1

Napoleon Solo

Lopez, Paco

Gold Square LLC

Summers, Chad

7/2

2

Talk to Me Jimmy

Silvera, Ruben

SEI Thoroughbreds, Rodriguez, Rudy R. and Imperio, Michael

Rodriguez, Rudy R.

6/1

3

Right to Party

Elliott, Christopher

Broman, Sr., Chester

McPeek, Kenneth G.

20/1

4

Steel

Civaci, Sahin

Bernard, L. Barrett and Stephens, Terry L.

Mott, William I.

12/1

5

Ocelli

Ramos, Joseph D.

Durr, Ashley, Tate, Anthony and Front Page Equestrian, LLC

Beckman, D. Whitworth

20/1

6

Minorinconvenience

Rodriguez, Jaime

Green, Amelia J., Gillman, Amanda L. and Upland Flats Racing

Green, Amelia J.

30/1

7

Albus

Torres, Jaime A.

Pin Oak Stud LLC

Mott, Riley

12/1

8

Courting

Carmouche, Kendrick

Whisper Hill Farm, LLC, Stonestreet Stables, LLC and Windancer Farm

Pletcher, Todd A.

8/1

9

Bravaro

Gonzalez, Edwin

Ciuffetelli, Albert, Brennan, Stephanie S., Shining Stables, LLC, BAG Racing Sta

Joseph Jr., Saffie A.

8/1

10

Red Zone Runner

Sanchez, Mychel J.

Coulter, Tom

Padilla, Hugo O.

30/1

11

Ottinho

Davis, Dylan

Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba)

Brown, Chad C.

10/1

12

Buetane

Garcia, Martin

Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.

Baffert, Bob

8/1

13

Iron Honor

Franco, Manuel

St. Elias Stable, Lawrence, William H. and Glassman Racing

Brown, Chad C.

5/2

Road to the Kentucky Derby

Santa Anita Derby

April 4, 2026

Santa Anita Park • Arcadia, CA, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Blue Grass

April 4, 2026

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Wood Memorial

April 4, 2026

Aqueduct • New York, NY, USA

Points: 100-50-25-15-10

Lexington

April 11, 2026

Keeneland • Lexington, KY, USA

Points: 20-10-6-4-2

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