Uncle Sigh and Samraat both like to run on the front-end and, with their sharp speed, have tended to race more as if they were in a match race than in a large field. However, they’ll face another speedy runner that likes to have the lead on Saturday, Manuel Azpurua’s Social Inclusion. After a 7 ½-length maiden victory followed by a 10-length allowance win, Social Inclusion, with not a single point on the Road to the Kentucky Derby points system, has quickly become a Kentucky Derby hopeful trying to transform into a Kentucky Derby contender.
Although Social Inclusion enters the big leagues with his first stakes appearance Saturday, he’s been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite. He earned a Brisnet speed figure of 106 in his allowance win, which is seven points higher than his top competitor in the field. Luis Contreras will be in the irons.
An interesting longshot play in the field is 15-1 Schivarelli. Trained by Eddie Kenneally, he comes in off a 12-length win over the Aqueduct inner track and has three straight bullet works. Whether or not he can sneak into the exotics for Saturday’s Wood, he looks like he has the potential to become a horse we’re discussing by the end of the Triple Crown trail.
The field of 11 from the rail out, with odds, is Kid Cruz 20-1, Wicked Strong 15-1, Noble Moon 12-1, Harpoon 8-1, Los Borrachos 30-1, Kristo 6-1, Schivarelli 15-1, Samraat 7-2, Effinex 50-1, Uncle Sigh 5-1, and Social Inclusion 2-1. It was announced Friday morning that Kid Cruz will scratch.
The Wood Memorial is the 10th race on Aqueduct’s Saturday’s card with a scheduled post time of 5:40 p.m. EST. It can be seen on NBC Sports Network (programming runs 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and includes the Santa Anita Derby), HRTV, and TVG. Free PPs provided by Brisnet.
Photo: Courtesy NYRA.com
