2017 Wood Memorial Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G2 Aqueduct Racetrack will be contested Saturday, April 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, New York. Some of the best three year olds in the land will chase the winner's share of the $750,000 and the whopping 100-40-20-10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby when they line up on Aqueduct's dirt track and race 1 1/8 miles.

Eight Derby hopefuls will line up in the Wood Memorial Stakes - race 10 on Aqueduct's stacked Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:52 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all eight entries for this important and intriguing G1 Road to the Kentucky Derby stakes.

2017 Wood Memorial Stakes Entries at Aqueduct Racetrack

Battalion Runner - up and coming Todd Pletcher trained colt has two wins and a second place finish in three career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday on a two race win streak - an Allowance Optional Claiming by 1 1/4 lengths last time out February 3 and a maiden score by 8 3/4 lengths December 31 -both on this very track. He was second in his debut at Belmont Park in June. Battalion Runner has been seriously tending upward ahead of this weekend and will try to keep the roll going from post 3. John Velazquez will be in the reins.

Irish War Cry - Graham Motion trained colt will hit the track for the fifth time Saturday having posted three wins in his four starts so far for trainer Graham Motion. Last time out was his only career blemish - an almost unfathomable seventh as even-money favorite in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park March 4. Before that he won the G2 Holy Bull Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths with a 102 Beyer Speed Figure in upset fashion over the terrific Classic Empire and Gunnevera at Gulfstream February 4 after a win in the restricted Marylander Stakes December 31 and a maiden score by 4 1/2 lengths at first asking November 11 - both at Laurel Park. Irish War Cry was firmly in the Kentucky Derby conversation before last time out and would like to get back in that conversation with a good performance Saturday with Rajiv Maragh aboard from gate 8.

Cloud Computing - highly regarded colt will hit the track for just the third time for trainer Chad Brown having posted a nice win in his first career start - on this track February 11 and a respectable second, over seven lengths clear of third in his only other career start - the G3 Gotham Stakes on this track March 4. He had a 96 Beyer Speed Figure in that race. Cloud Computing has looked good in both starts so far and hopes to keep the momentum going from post 7 Saturday. Irad Ortiz will be in the reins.

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Mo Town - Anthony Dutrow trained colt has two wins and a second place finish in his four career starts. He stepped into stakes company for the first time two starts back and won the G2 Remsen Stakes as a juvenile by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths on this track November 26 but fell back to earth a bit last time out finishing a well beaten fifth as favorite in the G2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds February 25. He started his career with a terrific seven length maiden score at Belmont Park September 24 and a second in his debut at Saratoga - August 27. Mo Town has looked terrific in training ahead of this weekend and has shown some serious affinity for this track. He tries for a strong bounceback performance Saturday with Javier Castellano aboard from gate 2.

Bonus Points - most experienced entry in the field has placed in five of seven career starts ahead of this weekend for trainer Todd Pletcher - one win, two seconds and two third place finishes. He enters on the heels of a somewhat disappointing fourth in the G3 Withers Stakes here February 4 after consecutive runner-up finishes - behind El Areeb in the G3 Jerome Stakes on this track in his graded stakes debut January 2 and the restricted Maryland Juvenile Futurity at Laurel Park December 10. Before that was a third in the minor Awad Stakes October 29 and a maiden score at Belmont Park October 1. Bonus Points has been knocking on the door of a first stakes win and hopes it comes Saturday with Luis Saez aboard from gate 4.

True Timber - has a win, a second and a third place finish in five career starts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. He enters off a fifth in the G3 Gotham Stakes on this track March 4 which followed a decent second to El Areeb in the G3 Withers Stakes here February 4, a respectable third place finish in the G3 Jerome Stakes on this track January 2, a maiden score by 1 1/2 lengths here December 10 and a fifth in his debut - also here November 19. True Timber has been OK and will be out to avenge a poor performance from post 5 with Paco Lopez guiding him.

Stretch's Stone - Bruce Levine trained gelding has two wins and a third place finish in his three career starts - all on this track. Last time out he was elevated to a win by DQ after being bumped in the stretch in an Allowance Optional Claiming event February 24. It followed an impressive 8 1/4 length maiden score December 18 and a third in his debut in November. Stretch's Stone has been impressive so far and hopes to be again in his major step up in competition. Manuel Franco has been tabbed to ride from gate 6.

Glennrichment - has a win and one runner-up finish in his four career starts for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and steps into stakes company for the first time Saturday. His win came last time out on this track March 5 which followed a second on this track February 5. He started his career with a fifth and an eighth in MSW races on the East Coast. Glennrichment has improved every time out and hops that success translates in his step up Saturday. Kendrick Carmouche rides.

2017 Wood Memorial Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 10 on Aqueduct's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:52 PM.