The Wood Memorial

[TJ]

Here's the field for the Wood Memorial.....Rattlesnake Ridge opted out. TJ

10th Race. (C10) Approx Post 5:48PM STAKES
THE RESORTS WORLD NEW YORK CASINO WOOD MEMORIAL
Grade I - $1,000,000
Purse $1,000,000 (Up to $62,500 NYSBFOA) One Mile And One Furlong
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
1 Starship Caesar(L) B.c.3 123 Velasquez, C Parbhoo, S Parboo, Bisnath
2 Toby's Corner(L) Ch.c.3 123 Castro, E Cotter, D Motion, H. Blk-On
3 Full of Scoundrels(L) B.c.3 123 Lopez, C Chatterpaul, N Chatterpaul, Naipaul
4 Arthur's Tale(L) B.c.3 123 Dominguez, R Darley Stable Albertrani, Thomas
5 Uncle Mo(L) B.c.3 123 Velazquez, J Repole Stable Pletcher, Todd
6 Preachintothedevil(L) B.c.3 123 Alvarado, J Crossed Sabres Farm Contessa, Gary
7 Duca(L) B.c.3 123 Court, J Baker, R Lukas, D.
8 Norman Asbjornson(L) B.c.3 123 Pimentel, J McClay, T Grove, Christopher
9 Isn't He Perfect(L) B.c.3 123 Hill, C Kharag Stables Shivmangal, Doodnauth
10 Son of Posse(L) Dk B/ Br.g.3 123 Maysonett, F Karma Stables Vitiello, Rhiannan

[Bast]

Here's the field for the Wood Memorial.....Rattlesnake Ridge opted out. TJ

10th Race. (C10) Approx Post 5:48PM STAKES
THE RESORTS WORLD NEW YORK CASINO WOOD MEMORIAL
Grade I - $1,000,000
Purse $1,000,000 (Up to $62,500 NYSBFOA) One Mile And One Furlong
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
1 Starship Caesar(L) B.c.3 123 Velasquez, C Parbhoo, S Parboo, Bisnath
2 Toby's Corner(L) Ch.c.3 123 Castro, E Cotter, D Motion, H. Blk-On
3 Full of Scoundrels(L) B.c.3 123 Lopez, C Chatterpaul, N Chatterpaul, Naipaul
4 Arthur's Tale(L) B.c.3 123 Dominguez, R Darley Stable Albertrani, Thomas
5 Uncle Mo(L) B.c.3 123 Velazquez, J Repole Stable Pletcher, Todd
6 Preachintothedevil(L) B.c.3 123 Alvarado, J Crossed Sabres Farm Contessa, Gary
7 Duca(L) B.c.3 123 Court, J Baker, R Lukas, D.
8 Norman Asbjornson(L) B.c.3 123 Pimentel, J McClay, T Grove, Christopher
9 Isn't He Perfect(L) B.c.3 123 Hill, C Kharag Stables Shivmangal, Doodnauth
10 Son of Posse(L) Dk B/ Br.g.3 123 Maysonett, F Karma Stables Vitiello, Rhiannan

O DEAR GAWD.

Starship Caesar claimed for $25 on 3 January
Toby's Corner won Whirlaway, 3rd Gotham Stakes
Full of Scoundrels won 6f NYbred $12.5k maiden claimer on 12 March
Arthurs Tale 6 starts, 1 win
Preachintothedevil 5 starts, won NYbred MSW and restricted stakes race
Duca 4 starts, 1 win
Norman Asbjornson 2nd in the Gotham
Isn't He Perfect 1 win-maiden claimer
Son of Posse 3rd in the Battaglia Memorial

[TJ]

Hi Bast,
Sure makes for a great 2 turn experience for Uncle Mo. Breaking in the middle of a 10 horse field will give him a taste of what's coming up on Derby Day......speed outside and inside will make JV have to think how to manueuver 'Mo through the traffic and the possible devious covering up/boxing in he'll encounter by other rider's along the way. This experience will prove to be invaluable for Uncle Mo because he'll have that target on his back in Kentucky too. I agree, the competition leaves something to be desired but I wouldn't call them "gawd awful", after all the Gotham runner up and third place finsher's are signed on to run....Mo can only run against what's out there and 2nd money is 200,000 which is why Toby's Corner stayed here and didn't ship to Hawthorne.....if he won in Hawthorne he'd only get 180,000 for the win. Seems he just has to get past Norman Asbjornson to win his race within the race and add 200,000 in graded earning's to his cause. TJ

[Bast]

Hi Bast,
Sure makes for a great 2 turn experience for Uncle Mo. Breaking in the middle of a 10 horse field will give him a taste of what's coming up on Derby Day......speed outside and inside will make JV have to think how to manueuver 'Mo through the traffic and the possible devious covering up/boxing in he'll encounter by other rider's along the way. This experience will prove to be invaluable for Uncle Mo because he'll have that target on his back in Kentucky too. I agree, the competition leaves something to be desired but I wouldn't call them "gawd awful", after all the Gotham runner up and third place finsher's are signed on to run....Mo can only run against what's out there and 2nd money is 200,000 which is why Toby's Corner stayed here and didn't ship to Hawthorne.....if he won in Hawthorne he'd only get 180,000 for the win. Seems he just has to get past Norman Asbjornson to win his race within the race and add 200,000 in graded earning's to his cause. TJ

Can you think of another $1 million dollar race with such a...lackluster bunch? Did they apply instruments of torture to get people to fill up the starting gate?

[TJ]

Hi Bast,
Sure makes for a great 2 turn experience for Uncle Mo. Breaking in the middle of a 10 horse field will give him a taste of what's coming up on Derby Day......speed outside and inside will make JV have to think how to manueuver 'Mo through the traffic and the possible devious covering up/boxing in he'll encounter by other rider's along the way. This experience will prove to be invaluable for Uncle Mo because he'll have that target on his back in Kentucky too. I agree, the competition leaves something to be desired but I wouldn't call them "gawd awful", after all the Gotham runner up and third place finsher's are signed on to run....Mo can only run against what's out there and 2nd money is 200,000 which is why Toby's Corner stayed here and didn't ship to Hawthorne.....if he won in Hawthorne he'd only get 180,000 for the win. Seems he just has to get past Norman Asbjornson to win his race within the race and add 200,000 in graded earning's to his cause. TJ

Can you think of another $1 million dollar race with such a...lackluster bunch? Did they apply instruments of torture to get people to fill up the starting gate?

Hi Bast,
Instruments of torture? Maybe so...if they had to fill the race with horses from their own track. Most of these are shipper's......NYRA can't apply pressure on them to run. They are in it for the graded money.......200,000 for 2nd and 100,000 for third is a lot of graded money and could assure a spot in the Derby for those in need. Bottom line, it is a horse race and with a field of ten and Mo breaking from the middle of the pack.....he can get in a lot of trouble and get beat. Secretariat got beat in this race and not by his nemisis.....by Angle Light who looked like he had no right to be in the race against Red and Sham? We'll see Saturday after the smoke clear's and all the results are in from around the country......and still we will have to see who actually shows up in the starting gate on Derby day as the shape of the race will dictate the winner as it did in the Florida Derby. If 'Mo is 1/2 of what Pletcher thinks of him, he should be able to get stopped cold and still win against not only these.....but that field of horses that just won the Florida Derby and any other's that come his way. TJ

[Bast]

Hi Bast,
Sure makes for a great 2 turn experience for Uncle Mo. Breaking in the middle of a 10 horse field will give him a taste of what's coming up on Derby Day......speed outside and inside will make JV have to think how to manueuver 'Mo through the traffic and the possible devious covering up/boxing in he'll encounter by other rider's along the way. This experience will prove to be invaluable for Uncle Mo because he'll have that target on his back in Kentucky too. I agree, the competition leaves something to be desired but I wouldn't call them "gawd awful", after all the Gotham runner up and third place finsher's are signed on to run....Mo can only run against what's out there and 2nd money is 200,000 which is why Toby's Corner stayed here and didn't ship to Hawthorne.....if he won in Hawthorne he'd only get 180,000 for the win. Seems he just has to get past Norman Asbjornson to win his race within the race and add 200,000 in graded earning's to his cause. TJ

Can you think of another $1 million dollar race with such a...lackluster bunch? Did they apply instruments of torture to get people to fill up the starting gate?

Hi Bast,
Instruments of torture? Maybe so...if they had to fill the race with horses from their own track. Most of these are shipper's......NYRA can't apply pressure on them to run. They are in it for the graded money.......200,000 for 2nd and 100,000 for third is a lot of graded money and could assure a spot in the Derby for those in need. Bottom line, it is a horse race and with a field of ten and Mo breaking from the middle of the pack.....he can get in a lot of trouble and get beat. Secretariat got beat in this race and not by his nemisis.....by Angle Light who looked like he had no right to be in the race against Red and Sham? We'll see Saturday after the smoke clear's and all the results are in from around the country......and still we will have to see who actually shows up in the starting gate on Derby day as the shape of the race will dictate the winner as it did in the Florida Derby. If 'Mo is 1/2 of what Pletcher thinks of him, he should be able to get stopped cold and still win against not only these.....but that field of horses that just won the Florida Derby and any other's that come his way. TJ

Secretariat had an abscess. He wasn't 100%. Angle Light never finished in front of him again.

I can understand picking up the checks. Mo has to win, win big, win fast, or we really don't know how he has matured since the BC Juvenile.

[TJ]

Hi Bast,
Sure makes for a great 2 turn experience for Uncle Mo. Breaking in the middle of a 10 horse field will give him a taste of what's coming up on Derby Day......speed outside and inside will make JV have to think how to manueuver 'Mo through the traffic and the possible devious covering up/boxing in he'll encounter by other rider's along the way. This experience will prove to be invaluable for Uncle Mo because he'll have that target on his back in Kentucky too. I agree, the competition leaves something to be desired but I wouldn't call them "gawd awful", after all the Gotham runner up and third place finsher's are signed on to run....Mo can only run against what's out there and 2nd money is 200,000 which is why Toby's Corner stayed here and didn't ship to Hawthorne.....if he won in Hawthorne he'd only get 180,000 for the win. Seems he just has to get past Norman Asbjornson to win his race within the race and add 200,000 in graded earning's to his cause. TJ

Can you think of another $1 million dollar race with such a...lackluster bunch? Did they apply instruments of torture to get people to fill up the starting gate?

Hi Bast,
Instruments of torture? Maybe so...if they had to fill the race with horses from their own track. Most of these are shipper's......NYRA can't apply pressure on them to run. They are in it for the graded money.......200,000 for 2nd and 100,000 for third is a lot of graded money and could assure a spot in the Derby for those in need. Bottom line, it is a horse race and with a field of ten and Mo breaking from the middle of the pack.....he can get in a lot of trouble and get beat. Secretariat got beat in this race and not by his nemisis.....by Angle Light who looked like he had no right to be in the race against Red and Sham? We'll see Saturday after the smoke clear's and all the results are in from around the country......and still we will have to see who actually shows up in the starting gate on Derby day as the shape of the race will dictate the winner as it did in the Florida Derby. If 'Mo is 1/2 of what Pletcher thinks of him, he should be able to get stopped cold and still win against not only these.....but that field of horses that just won the Florida Derby and any other's that come his way. TJ

Secretariat had an abscess. He wasn't 100%. Angle Light never finished in front of him again.

I can understand picking up the checks. Mo has to win, win big, win fast, or we really don't know how he has matured since the BC Juvenile.

Hi Bast,
Yes, I was welll aware of what was going on with Big Red back in the day:>) Uncle Mo seems to win big under wraps every time he goes to the post. He has made a forward move from 2 to 3 physically.....this I have seen. I don't believe he will be asked for anything more than a win and a strong gallop out after the wire. Pletcher is ever leary when running in such a grueling 3 race series and as I've said before.....it's the two week turn around from the derby to the Preakness that has many modern trainer's coming up short. This is attributed to the new age handicapping sheets and the bounce theory which has most big trainers giving their horses 5-6 weeks between races......many wait 2 weeks before they even breeze their horse after a race. When you consider that......the two week interval between the Derby and Preakness becomes even more pertinent. TJ

[bdw0617]

preachintothedevil is the 2nd best horse in this race. he's going to be a nice NY bred. he's beat some good horses like...crap the gray NY bred horse that can run a little can't think of his name. But not in the same universe as mo

[Toccet02]

Anybody think anything of Toby's Corner? He has never been off the board, is adding blinkers, and has an interesting pedigree.

[TJ]

preachintothedevil is the 2nd best horse in this race. he's going to be a nice NY bred. he's beat some good horses like...crap the gray NY bred horse that can run a little can't think of his name. But not in the same universe as mo

Hi bdw,
What about the way Toby's Corner whipped Preachintothedevil two starts back in the Whirlaway by 5 3/4's.....then in his next start Toby ran 3rd to Stay Thirsty in the Gotham, beaten a 1/2 by Norman Absjorbson.....that make's Toby's Corner the horse to beat in my book. Now Toby's Corner will get an extra sixteenth which will certainly help him turn the tables on Norman Asbjornson, who may try to contest the early pace along with just about everyone else in the field. Graham Motion is a thinking man's trainer and opted for this over the Hawthorne race.....he was taught never to duck one horse, he know's through his experience anything can and does happen in horse racing.....bottom line he get's more graded money running second here than winning the Hawthorne race without the concern of shipping all that far from his Fairhill Training Center base of operation's. His style of running is perfect for the way this race will shape up and if Mo gets caught up in a speed dual or is put in tight quarter's or boxed in by his competition.....Toby's Corner could get lucky. TJ

[TJ]

Anybody think anything of Toby's Corner? He has never been off the board, is adding blinkers, and has an interesting pedigree.

Hi Toccet,
I agree, I think he's the horse to beat. Have confidence in that trainer. TJ

[endspurt stables]

O DEAR GAWD.

Starship Caesar claimed for $25 on 3 January
Toby's Corner won Whirlaway, 3rd Gotham Stakes
Full of Scoundrels won 6f NYbred $12.5k maiden claimer on 12 March
Arthurs Tale 6 starts, 1 win
Preachintothedevil 5 starts, won NYbred MSW and restricted stakes race
Duca 4 starts, 1 win
Norman Asbjornson 2nd in the Gotham
Isn't He Perfect 1 win-maiden claimer
Son of Posse 3rd in the Battaglia Memorial



Arthur's Tale has won two races. Son of Posse has won a maiden 25 clm.
You make it sound like Son of Posse is decent.

Bet on this race 50 to show on all except Uncle Mo.
[/quote]

[Toccet02]

Anybody think anything of Toby's Corner? He has never been off the board, is adding blinkers, and has an interesting pedigree.

Hi Toccet,
I agree, I think he's the horse to beat. Have confidence in that trainer. TJ

Good, AND, in his last race he caught my eye. Nice mover. Go Toby! (I dislike Uncle Mo)

[Bast]

Assuming that Uncle Mo really is the standout--and not all horses dominant at 2 maintain that dominance at 3--it is difficult to sort out the other horses in the race.

In his last race, Starship Caesar finished 42 1/2 lengths behind Stay Thirsty in the Gotham Stakes, making him look like the bottom of the Wood Memorial field. But in his previous start at Gulfstream Park, he won at a mile in time :01.32 slower than Uncle Mo did about a month later.

What does this mean? I really don't know, because it is hard to know what to do with Uncle Mo's stroll at Gulfstream.

Sorting out most of the others by who beat whom makes me conclude that there isn't much difference between them. Norman Asbjornson and Toby's Corner look slightly better than Son of Posse, but not by much, at least on paper.

The only horse who appears inclined to show speed early other than Uncle Mo is Duca, who last out broke his maiden at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park. He was in front, but the fractions are not spectacular; he showed "speed" relative to this group.

[zinn21]

Anybody think anything of Toby's Corner? He has never been off the board, is adding blinkers, and has an interesting pedigree.

Good work Toccet and TJ!!!