Memorial Favorite Worth Taking The Risk

The road to the Kentucky Derby continues for nine runners on Saturday. A spot in the May 1 Run for the Roses could be up for grabs in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct.

It’s run on the same day as the Blue Grass Stakes and Santa Anita Derby, so there is plenty of excitement in the horse racing community.

Risk Taking is the current favorite, but it’s an open field and any number of runners could make a play for the win.

We preview our top three runners and trifecta picks, so bettors can land the big money.

2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Race Details

Time: Saturday, April 4, 5:58 p.m
Track: Aqueduct
Surface: Dirt
Distance: 1 1/8 Miles
Stake: $750,000
Where to watch: NBCSN

2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Field

A field of nine lines up for the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, including two runners each from the Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown stables.

1. Brooklyn Strong

Trainer: Daniel Velazquez
Jockey: Manny Franco
Record: 4 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Odds: 6-1

2. Crowded Trade

Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Eric Cancel
Record: 2 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Odds: 4-1

3. Bourbonic

Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche
Record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Odds: 30-1

4. Risk Taking

Trainer: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Jockey: Chad Brown
Record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 5-2

5. Dynamic One

Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Record: 4 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Odds: 12-1

6. Prevalence

Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 3-1

7. Candy Man Rocket

Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 12-1

8. Weyburn

Trainer: Jimmy Jerkins
Jockey: Trevor McCarthy
Record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Odds: 9-2

9. Market Maven

Trainer: Penny Pearce
Jockey: Dexter Haddock
Record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Odds: 30-1

Wood Memorial Stakes Best Bet – Risk Taking

Chad Brown lines up the 5-2 favorite, who has two quality wins from four career starts.

The son of Medaglia D’oro won the Grade 3 Withers Stakes by 1¾ lengths in February, which came at Aqueduct. Having track experience is key when facing a rise in class, so he has that box ticked.

Both of his career wins have come at this track and distance, so the online betting odds of 5-2 are worth taking. He represents value and although not a top Kentucky Derby prospect, he could mature into a nice type.

Brown has yet to win the Wood Memorial, so we’re hoping history changes.

Wood Memorial Stakes Next Best – Prevalence

Prevalence has yet to taste defeat and there is a sense of confidence in the Brendan Walsh camp.

Another son of Medaglia D’oro, the 3-year-old scored an 8½-length win on debut at Gulfstream Park and it came against a talented novice field.

“There were a bunch of horses in that race being touted,” Walsh told Paulick Report. “A lot of them have come back and run well, which showed that the form was respectable. He won by a very wide margin and no matter the company you’re in that’s pretty remarkable.”

He has never taken on stakes company, so this will be his biggest test. However, Wood Memorial Stakes betting markets have him safe at 3-1. That’s a good sign and he’s a Godolphin runner, so he can’t be ignored.

Godolphin won the 2015 Wood Memorial with Frosted, who subsequently ran fourth in the Kentucky Derby before embarking on a successful stud career.

Wood Memorial Stakes Best Value – Brooklyn Strong

There is little wrong with the form of Brooklyn Strong, who has three wins from four starts.

He comes off a win in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes in December, but has since been out with an illness. The Wood will be his first start since the Remsen and although lacking fitness, he’s not lacking ability.

Brooklyn Strong has won around two bends and that helps for this race. He is also one of the better stories in the Wood Memorial Stakes.

Trainer Daniel Velazquez had never won a stakes race prior to the Remsen and Brooklyn Strong was only a $5,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales. Velazquez was injured at training last month and is currently on the mend, so a win in the Wood Memorial Stakes would ease his pain.

2021 Wood Memorial Trifecta Selections

Betting markets for the Wood Memorial Stakes are always wide open and 2021 is no different.

We suggest taking a five-horse boxed trifecta, including the three aforementioned runners. Include Crowded Trade and Dynamic One for value. Both runners pose as winning threats and the odds are appealing.