Handicapping Contest!! KY Derby Prep: Wood Memorial
Quote from Purple Aura on March 31, 2026, 9:28 PM
Big field in the Wood Memorial. Blue Grass also happening as is the Santa Anita Derby. Out of sheer boredom handicapping contest? Anyone have a Derby preference yet? Make any future bets?
Big field in the Wood Memorial. Blue Grass also happening as is the Santa Anita Derby. Out of sheer boredom handicapping contest? Anyone have a Derby preference yet? Make any future bets?
Quote from NiekH on April 1, 2026, 6:43 AMI think Commandment is the favourite for me right now. His win in the Florida Derby was close, but he came from far back. His win in the Fountain was close as well, but I chalk that up to being green.
But I got to see the last 3 stakes leading up to the KY Derby.
I do not expect many decent foreign horses to come. The only one I quite like is Wonder Dean, he was impressive to me in the UAE Derby. What I liked about him was that he closed the gap to the leader in the stretch, and cleared. He'll be the horse with the longest distance in his legs and looked quite capable of longer.
I think Commandment is the favourite for me right now. His win in the Florida Derby was close, but he came from far back. His win in the Fountain was close as well, but I chalk that up to being green.
But I got to see the last 3 stakes leading up to the KY Derby.
I do not expect many decent foreign horses to come. The only one I quite like is Wonder Dean, he was impressive to me in the UAE Derby. What I liked about him was that he closed the gap to the leader in the stretch, and cleared. He'll be the horse with the longest distance in his legs and looked quite capable of longer.
Quote from Bgtolex25 on April 1, 2026, 7:51 AMI have followed the runners absolutely zilch this year. I am afraid that they may kick me out of the Commonwealth if I don’t turn it around. I am IN! Excited to be going to Keeneland for the first time on April 9.
I have followed the runners absolutely zilch this year. I am afraid that they may kick me out of the Commonwealth if I don’t turn it around. I am IN! Excited to be going to Keeneland for the first time on April 9.
Quote from Purple Aura on April 1, 2026, 8:34 AMI made a small future bet in one of the recent future pools on a Japanese horse named Danon Bourbon. Not sure if he gets in but Japan is going to win this race soon and will probably be 12-1 or less when they do. I think I got around 50-1. He won his last start looked good doing it but I'm not sure he will be the representative from Japan. Not the fastest time but didn't need to run all that fast. Here's his last start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc7Rqu6rUjA
I made a small future bet in one of the recent future pools on a Japanese horse named Danon Bourbon. Not sure if he gets in but Japan is going to win this race soon and will probably be 12-1 or less when they do. I think I got around 50-1. He won his last start looked good doing it but I'm not sure he will be the representative from Japan. Not the fastest time but didn't need to run all that fast. Here's his last start.
Quote from Lonnie on April 1, 2026, 11:01 AMHandicap contest is ON!
Wood Memorial ~ Aqueduct Racetrack ~ Race #12 ~ Saturday, April 4, 2026
Past Performance Page is attached.
Make three selections in ORDER.
- If your FIRST pick hits the board you get the win-place-show $2.00 payoffs
- If your SECOND pick hits the board, you get the place-show $2.00 payoffs (if it wins, you do not get the win price).
- If your THIRD shows, you get the $2.00 show payoff (you get nothing for the win or place payoffs).
Game on?!!
Handicap contest is ON!
Wood Memorial ~ Aqueduct Racetrack ~ Race #12 ~ Saturday, April 4, 2026
Past Performance Page is attached.
Make three selections in ORDER.
- If your FIRST pick hits the board you get the win-place-show $2.00 payoffs
- If your SECOND pick hits the board, you get the place-show $2.00 payoffs (if it wins, you do not get the win price).
- If your THIRD shows, you get the $2.00 show payoff (you get nothing for the win or place payoffs).
Game on?!!
Uploaded files:Quote from NiekH on April 1, 2026, 11:10 AMQuote from Purple Aura on April 1, 2026, 8:34 AMI made a small future bet in one of the recent future pools on a Japanese horse named Danon Bourbon. Not sure if he gets in but Japan is going to win this race soon and will probably be 12-1 or less when they do. I think I got around 50-1. He won his last start looked good doing it but I'm not sure he will be the representative from Japan. Not the fastest time but didn't need to run all that fast. Here's his last start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc7Rqu6rUjA
I agree with your take on Japan, so many good horses come from there right now. Both on turf and dirt.
Quote from Purple Aura on April 1, 2026, 8:34 AMI made a small future bet in one of the recent future pools on a Japanese horse named Danon Bourbon. Not sure if he gets in but Japan is going to win this race soon and will probably be 12-1 or less when they do. I think I got around 50-1. He won his last start looked good doing it but I'm not sure he will be the representative from Japan. Not the fastest time but didn't need to run all that fast. Here's his last start.
I agree with your take on Japan, so many good horses come from there right now. Both on turf and dirt.
Quote from Lonnie on April 1, 2026, 11:18 AMSince I know almost next to nothing about Thoroughbred racing, I let my cats make the following picks:
1st Pick Buetane 2nd Pick Steel 3rd Pick Minorinconvenience Good luck, everyone!
Since I know almost next to nothing about Thoroughbred racing, I let my cats make the following picks:
| 1st Pick | Buetane |
| 2nd Pick | Steel |
| 3rd Pick | Minorinconvenience |
Good luck, everyone!
Quote from NiekH on April 1, 2026, 12:47 PMTough field in my opinion for the Wood Memorial.
Not knowing much about these horses I'll go for:
1st pick Talk To Me Jimmy 2nd pick Iron Honor 3rd pick Red Zone Runner
Tough field in my opinion for the Wood Memorial.
Not knowing much about these horses I'll go for:
| 1st pick | Talk To Me Jimmy |
| 2nd pick | Iron Honor |
| 3rd pick | Red Zone Runner |
Quote from Bearcookie56 on April 2, 2026, 12:34 AMThree greys in the race,I wish we had more in harness racing .. I miss watching Admirals Express race down the stretch, he was a beauty ! I hope Japan does win a Derby as well, it’s incredibly hard for a horse to compete at top level, after making that long, transatlantic trek..
Three greys in the race,I wish we had more in harness racing .. I miss watching Admirals Express race down the stretch, he was a beauty ! I hope Japan does win a Derby as well, it’s incredibly hard for a horse to compete at top level, after making that long, transatlantic trek..
Quote from Purple Aura on April 2, 2026, 2:27 PM
2. Talk to Me Jimmy
5. Ocelli
7. Albus
Bombs away. Don't like any of the favorites. Ocelli is a maiden, still like him. The 8 Courting they paid 5 million for. Seems like he has a 5 million dollar pedigree and a .10 cent head. He does the strangest things. The 1 seems sketchy, the 13 drew bad, and why is Baffert here? $1.00 ex box 257. .50 tri box 257. 1.00tri key 2-57. 4.00 win on Ocelli. 15.00 worth of fun. hehehe.
2. Talk to Me Jimmy
5. Ocelli
7. Albus
Bombs away. Don't like any of the favorites. Ocelli is a maiden, still like him. The 8 Courting they paid 5 million for. Seems like he has a 5 million dollar pedigree and a .10 cent head. He does the strangest things. The 1 seems sketchy, the 13 drew bad, and why is Baffert here? $1.00 ex box 257. .50 tri box 257. 1.00tri key 2-57. 4.00 win on Ocelli. 15.00 worth of fun. hehehe.