Last year’s renewal of the Wood Memorial saw a big longshot, Lord Miles, cross the line first and pay more than $120 for a $2 win bet. Is another big price in the offing Saturday at Aqueduct for the 2024 event?
A field of 13 3-year-olds will contest the Wood, and plenty of potential Kentucky Derby betting enthusiasts will be watching. Here’s a look at the race, some of its top contenders, and one handicapper’s betting strategies.
2024 Wood Memorial Quick Facts
- Date: Saturday, April 6
- Location: Aqueduct; Ozone Park, N.Y.
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles
- Purse: $750,000
- Kentucky Derby points (to the top five finishers): 100-50-25-15-10
AmWager: $150 First Deposit Match; CLICK HERE TO CLAIM!
Deterministic A 7/5 Morning Line Favorite
#4 Deterministic has run just twice, but both races have been strong victories for this Christophe Clement trainee. He debuted with a win at Saratoga, then went to the sidelines until March. When he came back, it was in the Gotham Stakes, where he splashed home to a two-length win over a sloppy track. Other than taking time off, he’s done nothing wrong, and he’ll likely be a heavy favorite Saturday.
He hasn’t scared anybody off, though. 12 other 3-year-olds will go postward, and the 4-1 second choice is #9 Tuscan Sky. Like Deterministic, he’s also 2-for-2, and his most recent win came going two turns at Fair Grounds. That day’s runner-up, Nash, had previously run second in the Lecomte Stakes, and he went on to win the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park late last month.
This race also features the top two finishers from the Withers Stakes, which was run at Aqueduct in February. #13 Uncle Heavy rallied to edge #2 El Grande O that day. They’re the co-third choices at 8-1 on the morning line.
TwinSpires: $400 Deposit Bonus; CLICK HERE TO CLAIM!
2024 Wood Memorial Selections
Much to the relief of most of horse racing Twitter, I don’t see another Lord Miles-like result in this year’s Wood Memorial. I do, however, think the favorite may be vulnerable.
The great handicapper Harvey Pack often said, “never bet a horse, as the favorite, doing something it’s never done before.” Deterministic clearly has a lot of talent, but he’s never gone two turns, and on Saturday, he’ll do so against a big field. Given the potential for something to not go his way, I can’t pick him on top (though I will pick him second).
I prefer Tuscan Sky, whose last-out victory was extremely impressive. Todd Pletcher’s barn is red-hot right now, having sent out several Grade 1 winners over the past week, and I think he gets another Kentucky Derby runner when Tuscan Sky prevails in the Wood.
The draw wasn’t kind to Uncle Heavy, who will break on the far outside and may have to negotiate a trip. However, he overcame a pretty significant bias to win the Withers, which was contested at this route of ground. It’s often tough for 3-year-olds to go two turns that early. He did, and I think there’s some talent here.
- 1st: #9 Tuscan Sky
- 2nd: #4 Deterministic
- 3rd: #13 Uncle Heavy
