Riley Mott trainee Albus won New York's definitive prep race for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, drawing clear in the stretch to post a 1 1/4-length victory over fast-closing 38-1 shot Right to Party in the Grade 2 $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes presented by Resorts World Casino on April 4 in the 66th and final running of the race ever to be contested at Aqueduct.

It was like father, like son as the young trainer. Riley Mott grew up watching his dad, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, win a plethora of major races in New York, so when the final Wood Memorial was contested at Aqueduct, it seemed fitting that it featured a lesson in the circle of life.

"I'm so tickled. We put in a lot of hard work every day and this is my life's work," the 34-year-old Riley Mott said.

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With the Wood offering 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points for the May 2 run for the roses at Churchill Downs, Albus picked up 100 points in the 1 1/8-mile 3-year-old stakes to wrap up a spot in the opening leg of the Triple Crown.

"After his maiden win (Feb. 27 at Tampa Bay Downs in his third and most recent start), the Wood Memorial was always on our mind. So, to have that come to fruition is really gratifying. When you can put forth a plan and execute it effectively, it really is so much fun as a trainer," Mott said.

Mott now will be bringing two horses to the Kentucky Derby along with Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt.

"Never would I have thought going into this year that would be happening, but we still have a long ways to go and I just hope both colts stay happy and healthy and that we can put them in the gate that day," Mott said. "This horse will go right to Churchill and is scheduled to leave (April 6). It's fun to take him there and be qualified for the Derby and not just be a bystander and watch. We're thrilled and we'll let the good times roll."

Right to Party raced 11th in the field of 12 after a half mile but closed from seventh at the eighth pole to edge Ocelli for second by a nose. The result vaulted him into the Kentucky Derby field with 50 points, giving him a total of 65. At the moment, Right to Party is not nominated to the Triple Crown but trainer Ken McPeek said that "for sure" the late nomination fee would be paid.

"He ran super. Once he got more distance, he figured things out. He grinds it out. He deserves the nomination. He earned it," McPeek said.

Iron Honor was the 5-2 favorite in the Wood but had a tough trip from post 12 and finished seventh. With 50 qualifying points from a victory in the Feb. 28 Gotham Stakes, he's 21st on the Leaderboard and will need a defection in order to run. Trainer Chad Brown seemed willing to draw a line through Saturday's performance and ponder a start in the Kentucky Derby.

"Let me go back to the drawing board. It was such a rough trip. This horse is really good," Brown said. "I didn't like how it unfolded at all for him after he got slammed (going into the first turn). It didn't really work out for him out there but let me see how he comes out of it and go from there."

There was a fast pace in the 101st Wood as Napoleon Solo and Talk to Me Jimmy dueled through fractions of :22.92, :47.30, and 1:12.04. On the turn, jockey Jaime Torres moved Albus four-wide from eighth and he surged in the stretch to a half-length lead at the eighth pole. He extended the winning margin from there.

Sent off at 11-1 ($25.78), Albus covered the mile and an eighth in 1:51.71.

Always a Runner Wins Gazelle, Stays Perfect

If you couldn't tell by her name, Always a Runner has always been a horse that trainer Chad Brown has been high on. She proved their patience and expectations correct April 4 with a win in the Grade 3 $200,000 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct.

With her victory, Always a Runner earned 100 qualifying points in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and clinched a spot in the race May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Always a Runner. (Eclipse Sportswire)

After debuting with a 6 1/2-length win Feb. 6 going 1 mile and 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs, Always a Runner looked like an Oaks horse in the Gazelle, a race Brown said was a "last-minute decision" to run in.

Always a Runner won the Gazelle over runner-up Pashmina by 1 1/4 lengths over a track rated fast that had received quite a bit of rain just as the fillies were in the paddock. She completed 1 1/8 miles under jockey Dylan Davis in 1:50.97, which was 0.74 seconds faster than the boys ran in the Wood Memorial one race later. She was 10 lengths clear of Paradise in third.

The top five finishers were awarded qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.

Although 2-for-2 and proven at the distance, Brown said he still is uncertain about whether or not he'd want to start Always a Runner in the Kentucky Oaks or if it would be asking the filly for too much too early.

"I think it could go both ways. Big risk, big reward," Brown said. "I don't want to be careless with these horses, but she's really talented. She's not that big, but she's handy and a very athletic sort. The Oaks, you don't have the 20-horse field (like the Derby). Is there that much risk? I don't know, I'd have to look at the field and look it over and talk to the owners. My gut would tell me it's not that risky." -- Sean Collins.