Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher knows what it takes to win the $750,000, Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct. He’s won the 1 1/8-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve qualifier seven times with Eskendereya (2010), Gemologist (2012), Verrazano (2013), Outwork (2016), Vino Rosso (2018), Bourbonic (2021), and Mo Donegal (2022), equaling the record set by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons from 1930 through 1957.
When the 2023 Wood Memorial is contested this Saturday, Pletcher can pick up an eighth victory and own the record outright. He trains three of the 13 horses entered in the Wood Memorial, and one of them – #11 Classic Catch (10-1) – looks like a live longshot to visit the winner’s circle.
What’s not to like about Classic Catch? Since finishing third in his debut sprinting last fall, he hasn’t run a bad race. Of particular note, he wrapped up 2022 with a rallying victory in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct, defeating stablemate and fellow Wood Memorial entrant #9 Crupi (12-1) by 2 ½ lengths.
Classic Catch kicked off 2023 by finishing third in a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs, a slow-paced contest that favored the pacesetters Prairie Hawk and Groveland, who ran 1-2 from start to finish. The fact Classic Catch gained ground to finish only 1 ¼ lengths away from victory is noteworthy, especially when you consider how Prairie Hawk ran fourth in the Grade 3 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby last month and Groveland returned to finish second in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes in February.
The most recent race on Classic Catch’s résumé is a 1 1/8-mile allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. The pace was once again slow, but Classic Catch successfully rallied from three lengths behind to beat Mr. Ripple by two lengths. That performance looks all the better when you consider how Mr. Ripple returned to run fourth in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa last week.
So let’s recap: Classic Catch is 2-for-2 racing 1 1/8 miles, with one of those victories coming at Aqueduct. He’s run well against capable competition. Throw in the fact horses shipping in from Florida have won 10 of the last 12 editions of the Wood Memorial, and Classic Catch is an appealing choice to take home top honors.
The above-mentioned Crupi is another viable contender while exiting the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford at Fair Grounds, which has already produced Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire and Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Two Phil’s. But #1 Dreamlike (7-2) actually has the shortest morning-line odds of the three Pletcher trainees.
Dreamlike has only run twice, and he hasn’t won either time. But the stoutly bred son of Gun Runner was beaten less than one length when second in a quick 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park last month. Dreamlike is adding blinkers for the Wood Memorial and still has upside for improvement, so don’t count him out of the mix.
Beyond the Pletcher trainees, #13 Hit Show (5-2) and #5 Slip Mahoney (6-1) are key contenders. Hit Show needs no introduction; he’s the lone graded stakes winner in the field, having rallied to an explosive 5 ½-length victory in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes racing 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct two months ago. He’s trained sharply in preparation for his return to New York, but must avoid a wide trip while breaking from the far outside post position.
As for Slip Mahoney, he benefited from a fast pace when rallying to finish second in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes racing one mile at Aqueduct last month. But two starts back, he dueled for the early lead on his way to beating Crupi by a head in a maiden special weight over the same track and distance.
Slip Mahoney is a son of Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate out of Grade 1 Spinster Stakes winner Got Lucky (a daughter of Horse of the Year and stamina influence A.P. Indy), so his pedigree is geared top and bottom toward success running long. All of Slip Mahoney’s races thus far have come around one turn, but he figures to relish stretching out around two turns in the Wood Memorial. Don’t be surprised if he takes a step forward on Saturday.
We also have to highlight #7 Arctic Arrogance (6-1), who has recorded runner-up finishes in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes, Jerome Stakes, and Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct. Arctic Arrogance has set the pace in five of his six starts, and while the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Wood Memorial might stretch the limits of his stamina, a top-five finish is within reach for this talented New York-bred colt.
So how should we play the Wood Memorial? At 10-1, Classic Catch is worth betting to win. But we’ll also use him for first and second place in exacta and trifecta tickets, hoping to catch a nice payoff if he finishes in the top two with other logical contenders.
Wagering Strategy on a $15 Budget
$6 to win on #11 Classic Catch
What to say at the betting window: Aqueduct, 11th race, $6 to win on #11 Classic Catch
$1 exacta: 11 with 1,5,13 ($3)
What to say at the betting window: Aqueduct, 11th race, $1 exacta 11 with 1,5,13
$2 exacta: 1,5,13 with 11 ($6)
What to say at the betting window: Aqueduct, 11th race, $2 exacta 1,5,13 with 11
Wagering Strategy on a $40 Budget
$10 to win on #11 Classic Catch
What to say at the betting window: Aqueduct, 11th race, $10 to win on #11 Classic Catch
$2 exacta: 11 with 1,5,13 ($6)
What to say at the betting window: Aqueduct, 11th race, $2 exacta 11 with 1,5,13
$4 exacta: 1,5,13 with 11 ($12)
What to say at the betting window: Aqueduct, 11th race, $4 exacta 1,5,13 with 11
$0.50 trifecta: 11 with 1,5,13 with 1,5,7,9,13 ($6)
What to say at the betting window: Aqueduct, 11th race, $0.50 trifecta 11 with 1,5,13 with 1,5,7,9,13
$0.50 trifecta: 1,5,13 with 11 with 1,5,7,9,13 ($6)
What to say at the betting window: Aqueduct, 11th race, $0.50 trifecta 1,5,13 with 11 with 1,5,7,9,13
Good luck, and enjoy the race!
1st
$120.50
$25.60
$13.20
Pick 3
6-11-8
6-11-8
$763
Pick 4
7-6/8-11-8
7-6/8-11-8
$3,961
Pick 5
(X-COUNTRY P5) 5-7-8/13-1-8
(X-COUNTRY P5) 5-7-8/13-1-8
$60,092
Pick 5
1/10-7-6/8-11-8
1/10-7-6/8-11-8
$29,177
Pick 6
5-1/10-7-6/8-11-8
5-1/10-7-6/8-11-8
$855
Daily Double
11-8
11-8
$331
Superfecta
8-13-1-7
8-13-1-7
$292
Trifecta
8-13-1
8-13-1
$426
Pick 3
6-11-8
6-11-8
$763
Pick 4
7-6/8-11-8
7-6/8-11-8
$3,961
Pick 5
(X-COUNTRY P5) 5-7-8/13-1-8
(X-COUNTRY P5) 5-7-8/13-1-8
$60,092
Pick 5
1/10-7-6/8-11-8
1/10-7-6/8-11-8
$29,177
Pick 6
5-1/10-7-6/8-11-8
5-1/10-7-6/8-11-8
$855
Daily Double
11-8
11-8
$331
Superfecta
8-13-1-7
8-13-1-7
$292
Trifecta
8-13-1
8-13-1
$426
