Iron Honor stretches out in deep G2 Wood Memorial
At 0h04, on March 31, 2026 • By Aqueduct Racetrack
St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence and Glassman Racing’s Iron Honor will stretch out in distance while navigating a competitive 13-horse field in Saturday’s 101st running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, a nine-furlong test for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Wood Memorial, which offers a respective 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers, is slated as Race 12 on Saturday’s 12-race card. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.
The card is bolstered by the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets for older horses sprinting seven furlongs [Race 6]; the Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points [Race 11]; the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff at seven furlongs for older fillies and mares [Race 10]; and the Listed $150,000 Excelsior at 1 1/4 miles for older horses [Race 3].
The list of past Wood Memorial winners includes 11 who went on to win the Kentucky Derby [Gallant Fox, 1930; Twenty Grand, 1931; Johnstown, 1939; Count Fleet, 1943; Hoop Jr., 1945; Assault, 1946; Foolish Pleasure, 1975; Bold Forbes, 1976; Seattle Slew, 1977; Pleasant Colony, 1981; and Fusaichi Pegasus, 2000]. Gallant Fox, Count Fleet, Assault and Seattle Slew all captured the Triple Crown.
The winner of the 2026 Wood Memorial and the first-three finishers of the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan on May 9 here will have their entry and starting fees waived for the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 6, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by five-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, Iron Honor [post 13, Manny Franco] enters from a one-length score over Crown the Buckeye in the one-turn mile Grade 3 Gotham on February 28 here. With a pace-pressing trip under returning rider Manny Franco, the Nyquist bay improved to 2-for-2, equipped with blinkers in both races, and was awarded 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
“I think this is a very talented 3-year-old,” Franco said. “He is 2-for-2 in his career, so I’m just happy to be on his back. I think the distance will be no problem, with the size he has and he has Chad, too. He is a great trainer.”
Iron Honor’s final time of 1:37.94 over the good footing earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, slightly lower than his debut 95 for a local 1 1/2-length score over next-out winners Crossingthechannel and returning rival Right to Party sprinting six furlongs on December 13.
Franco was aboard Iron Honor for a half-mile breeze in 49.31 seconds in company with Ottinho on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.
