Sand Devil breezes for G2 Wood Memorial pres. by Resorts World Casino

Chester Broman, Sr.’s New York homebred Sand Devil had his first work back since a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Gotham on March 1, covering a half-mile in 49 seconds flat in company on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

Trained by Linda Rice, Sand Devil is targeting the nine-furlong Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack, a 100-50-25-15-10 qualifier for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

“He went nice, went out five-eighths in 1:01 and 2, galloped out three-quarters in 13 and 3 – we were very happy,” Rice said of the work. “He stayed with the company for about a half-mile and then went on by himself. We are headed towards the Wood Memorial, and things are going the right way.”

The chestnut son of Violence was handed his first career defeat by Flood Zone in the one-turn mile Gotham, where he stumbled at the break under regular pilot Jose Lezcano and rushed up to engage in a three-way battle for the lead with Flood Zone and Normandy Coast. Sand Devil stuck his head in front at the three-quarters call before being collared by Flood Zone heading into the stretch, and was defeated by 3 1/4 lengths while 1 3/4 lengths clear of third-place Garamond. Sand Devil was awarded 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the effort.

“We felt like things didn’t unfold perfectly for him, but there’s no shame in being second in the Gotham,” Rice said. “He stumbled at the break and then rushed up and was head-and-head for the lead. Nothing went perfectly, but we still got 25 points.”

Sand Devil entered the Gotham undefeated in three starts against state-breds at the Big A, beginning with a debut graduation on December 8 sprinting six furlongs. He then romped by 12 1/2-lengths in a one-turn mile optional claimer on January 2, and aced his first stakes test in the seven-furlong Damon Runyon when edging National Identity in the final jumps on February 8.