Gemologist faces seven in Wood

OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- Undefeated Gemologist drew post 6 in a field of eight 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturday's $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Gemologist, who has won all four of his starts, will likely need a top-two finish to accrue enough graded stakes earnings to get into the Kentucky Derby. Gemologist, trained by Todd Pletcher for the WinStar Farm -- the same connections that won the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver -- is coming off a seven-length allowance win at Gulfstream on March 16. Javier Castellano rides.

Alpha, winner of the Count Fleet and Grade Withers Stakes over the inner track, will break from the rail under Ramon Dominguez. Alpha, a son of Bernardini, is owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.

The Wood will go as race 9 (5:15 p.m. Eastern) on an 11-race card and will be preceded by the $250,000 Comely for 3-year-old fillies, a race in which Agave Kiss was not entered; the $250,000 Bay Shore led by Swale Stakes winner Trinniberg. The Grade 1 Carter, featuring Caleb's Posse, Shackleford, and Jackson Bend, will be run following the Wood.

The Wood will be shown live on NBC in a 90-minute telecast that will also include the Santa Anita Derby.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe