Prevalence highlight competitive edition of the Wood Memorial
At 0h37, on April 2, 2021 • By AQUEDUCT
Unbeaten Prevalence highlight a strong field for Saturday’s 96th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial for sophomores going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Wood Memorial, which has seen 11 winners go on to win the “Run for the Roses” (Kentucky Derby) in its illustrious history, is one of five graded events on Saturday at the Big A, including the first New York Grade 1 race of the year in the $300,000 Carter for 4-year-olds and up going seven furlongs; the Grade 3, $200,000 Bayshore for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs; the Grade 3, $150,000 Excelsior for 4-year-olds and up going nine furlongs; and the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle, a nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.
Godolphin, whose royal blue colors saw the winner’s circle in the 2015 Wood Memorial with Frosted, will seek their second Wood triumph with the highly regarded Prevalence. The Brendan Walsh-trained son of Medaglia d’Oro is 2-for-2 at Gulfstream Park to start and his career will see two turns for the first time.
Prevalence, the 3-1 morning-line second choice, posted an 8 ½-length debut win going seven furlongs on January 23. The talented bay colt defeated Stage Raider, a half-brother to 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.
