Aqueduct: The Grade I, $1 Million Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles

#1 Starship Caesar (50-1 ML): Beaten a country mile in the GIII Gotham, the local prep, and while he drew extremely well tomorrow, there’s no real reason to think he can turn the tables on those who beat him, not to mention that guy named ‘Mo; longshot.

#2 Toby’s Corner (8-1): Splashed home in the Whirlaway earlier this winter, then didn’t follow up in Stay Thirsty’s Gotham and as a result the blinkers go on today. The aforementioned winner headed to Gulfstream Park and laid a real dud in the GI Florida Derby, so you’ve got to wonder about the quality of the Gotham, not to mention this colt’s ability to run a top race on dry land. In expert hands and should sit the trip, but he’s going to be trying to win today, which means he could have his heart broken by ‘Mo on the far turn and then regress in the lane, not to mention that he’s really no faster than most of his rivals who will be five to ten times the price; trying to beat for all the slots today.

#3 Full Of Scoundrels (50-1): Nice claim by Chatterpaul two-back and why not take a crack in a weak GI where seemingly anyone can run second? Decent two-turn debut in his last behind Wood rival Isn’t He Perfect and with just two lifetime starts, there’s plenty of room for improvement in this corner. If he can build off that run, there’s no reason he can’t contend for a minor award behind the heavy favorite; won’t fault anyone looking this way to spice up the exotics.

#4 Arthur’s Tale (12-1): Interesting runner in that he seems to have talent, but it’s just a matter of him staying focused long enough to display it. Resolute win in the slop last time and he’s run well on a fast track too, so there’s some versatility, and he’s bred to run all day and get better with age, and we’re at the point in time where these 3yo’s can jump up and improve open lengths overnight. Also important to note that this is a Darley runner with a tremendous pedigree, and a GI placing would do wonders for his career as a stallion, so just maybe the instructions to Ramon are to try and finish in the money and let the others try and beat ‘Mo and pay the price for doing so; for that alone he gets second billing.

#5 Uncle Mo (1-5): Reigning 2yo champ looked good winning his comeback in what amounted to a paid public workout at Gulfstream last month and now stretches out to two turns for his final Derby prep. His juvenile season was as brilliant as we’ve seen in quite some time, and he picked right up where he left off at GP while coming home in under: 23 for his last quarter-mile. While 9 furlongs is new territory, you won’t ever find a weaker GI than this, so no reason to think the distance will be a problem today. His sketchy schedule this spring gives you every right to try and beat him on the first Saturday in May, but today he makes the 1-5 ML look like an overlay, so not advising a play against. Figures to take his customary spot on or just off the early leaders and stroll clear entering the far turn; wins in a canter and heads to Louisville as one of the shortest price Derby favorites in many years.

#6 Preachintothedevil (20-1): Blinkers go on after he reportedly lost some focus over the Polytrack in Turfway Park’s GIII Spiral, so look for him to show a bit more zip. Talented New York-bred has a nice pedigree and a running style that says 9 furlongs is within his scope, and he wasn’t beaten all that much by ‘Toby in the Whirlaway, so maybe he could be in line to fill out your tri or super; can contend underneath.

#7 Duca (20-1): What’s the old angle, D. Wayne off the plane? Lukas brings a rapidly improving colt who looked sharp taking his two-turn debut at Oaklawn Park last time, and now he’s tossed right into the deep end of the pool. There’s speed here to be close up early, but it’s unlikely he can run with ‘Mo and still have enough starch to hold off the closers in the stretch; stop and pop most likely.

#8 Norman Asbjornson (15-1): Sharp run to be second in the Gotham at big odds to announce that he’s not just a Mid-Atlantic runner beating up on suspect competition at Penn National and Parx. He’ll have to prove it one more time today, but we’ve gone out of our way to mention that there’s no one special in here behind ‘Mo, although that means this gelding isn’t much faster than the rest, either. Should be close to what figures to be a modest pace and then take a run at the favorite off the far turn; seems to be the horse to beat…for second money, which is exactly what we’ll try to do.

#9 Isn’t He Perfect (50-1): Beat ‘Scoundrels over the inner track last month after settling off a slow pace and kicking clear late, and he’s by a BC Classic winner, so this longer trip should be no problem. He was a huge, huge price in the Gotham but didn’t run poorly at all and seems to be on the upswing, so he’s another that can contend at long odds in the exotics; not the worst bomber to have underneath.

#10 Son Of Posse (50-1): Beaten up pretty good in all his two-turn runs and this son of sprinter Posse drew terribly for this race, so he’ll have to use his speed to secure position with that quick run into the first turn; know him early, but that’s it.

Selections:

#5 Uncle Mo

#4 Arthur’s Tale

#3 Full Of Scoundrels

#9 Isn’t He Perfect