The $1,000,000 2013 Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct is the final tune-up race for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the New York circuit. The Wood Memorial is for three year old colts and gelding and will run on April 6, 2013. The race is set for 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

The following horses have been entered in this race:

1. Chrisandthecapper ran 5th and 2nd at Monmouth Park last Summer in the claiming ranks. Trainer Jason Servis gave the First Samurai colt three months off before shipping to Florida. He ran 2nd in his maiden special weight debut at Calder race course on November 10th. He would get another four months off over the Winter before popping up at Aqueduct on March 9. He would win the six furlongs maiden special weight race by 11 1/2 lengths. He has yet to run further than six furlongs. Jockey Jose Lezcano Finished 6th

2. Normandy Invasion missed in his debut at Belmont Park on September 15, but came back to break his maiden at Aqueduct on November 2. His lost by a mere nose to Overanalyze in the Remsen Stakes on November 24. His latest was a disaster in the Risen Star Stakes as he endured troubled after every juncture of the race. He still managed to finish 5th beaten just 1 3/4 lengths. Jockey Javier Castellano Finished 2nd

4.Elnaawi came off his maiden score at Aqueduct on January 12 to finish 3rd in the Gotham Stakes on March 2. It was the second race as a three year old and third overall under new trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The Street Sense cot debuted in a 3rd place finish on December 8, also at Aqueduct. He is owned by Shadwell Stable. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Finished 5th

5. Vyjack comfortably won both of his starts as a two year old taking his maiden debut going 6 1/2 furlongs and the seven furlongs Traskwood Stakes, both at Aqueduct. He carried the momentum over to 2013 and won the Jerome Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct on January 5 going one mile and 70 yards. He made it 2 for 2 this year with a solid win in the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. He heads into the Wood Memorial as one of the horses to beat. Jockey Joel Rosario Finished 3rd

6. Mr Palmer has tested all surfaces in his first seven races and took six tries to break his maiden. He raced at Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Turfway Park, and finally Aqueduct where he won by a neck going one mile and 70 yards on dirt. It was the first start as a three year for the William Mott trained Pulpit colt. He came right back three weeks later to win the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park going 1 1/8 miles. He used an explosive last to first move to win by 3 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:51.35. Jockey Junior Alvarado Finished 4th

7. Always In A Tiz finished 5th in the Southwest Stkes after making a premature move down the backstretch. It wasn’t the follow up that trainer Dominick Schettino was hoping for considering his narrow 3rd place finish in the Smarty Jones Stakes in the race prior. The Tiznow colt was only beaten a neck and head. It was a sloppy track, so we can give him a break on this result. His first was a maiden score at Saratoga in September, then runner-up in the Traskwood Stakes at Aqueduct after missing just over three months. Jockey Calvin Borel Finished 9th

8. Verrazano was certainly ready for his first stakes race as he drew off to win the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs on March 9. The More Than Ready colt trained by Todd Pletcher won his debut at Gulfstream Park on January 1 by destroying the field by 7 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:16.48. He thought it would be good to make a mockery of the field in an Allowance Optional Claiming $75,000 going a mile as he won by a commanding 16 1/4 lengths in a hand ride 1:34.80. Keep an eye on this colt folks. Quite impressive so far. Jockey John Velasquez WINNER!!

9. Go Get the Basil will be making his stakes debut. Nothing like going for the gusto. The Rich Violette trained colt by Andromeda’s Hero ran poorly in his first two races at Saratoga last Summer. He won when dropped to the claiming ranks at Belmont Park in October. That win started a modest streak that also included wins at Aqueduct in an Allowance on December 28 and Starter Allowance $35,000 on January 31. His latest was a close 2nd (nose in an Allowance Optional Claimer for $75,000 going one mile and 70 yards. Jockey Jose Ortiz Finished 8th

10. Freedom Child opened his career with an 8th place finish at Belmont Park going seven furlongs last September. he went wide the entire race. Two months later, the Thomas Albertrani trained ridgling by Malibu Moon finished 2nd at Aqueduct going a mile. After another two months break, he shipped to Florida and ran 3rd at Gulfstream Park going 1 1/16 miles. The breakthrough maiden score came on March 10 as he went gate to wire going 1 1/8 miles to win by 5 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:50.96. Very close to the times that both Orb (Florida Derby) and Revolutionary (Louisiana Derby) posted on March 30. Maybe he found his distance. Jockey Elvis Trujillo Finished 10th

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