Wood Memorial Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2021 Wood Memorial Stakes is set for April 3 at Aqueduct Race Track in Queen’s, New York. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Wood Memorial Stakes Preview and Prediction
- Race: Wood Memorial Stakes
- Purse: $750,000
- Track: Aqueduct Race Track
- Date: April 3
- Post Time: 5:58 PM (ET)
- Live: Wood Memorial Stakes Odds: Click Here
2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Handicapping
One of three Kentucky Derby qualifying races this Saturday, the Wood Memorial is also one of North America’s most historic, with a history that stretches back to the first running in 1925. These days it’s significant as one of the last Derby qualifiers, awarding Derby points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top four finishers.
Run at 1 1/8 miles on the Aqueduct dirt, the 2021 Wood has drawn a very competitive field of nine, with five of those listed in single-digits in the pre-race odds.
Odds listed here are the morning line odds from the Aqueduct track handicapper.
2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Risk Taking Race Odds: 5-2
The home-track favourite, Risk Taking has made three consecutive starts at Aqueduct, breaking his maiden on his third lifetime attempt racing 1 1/8 miles on the Big A dirt. He then made a solid move forward speed-wise in his 2021 debut, when he captured the (G2) Withers Stakes, again on the track and at the distance.
It is worth noting that the time for that win came back slower than his maiden score, and none of the other horses coming out of that race have shown enough to warrant entry here.
The trainer is Chad Brown, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. ships north after capturing the Gulfstream Park winter meet riding title.
2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Weyburn Race Odds: 9-2
Coming in off a win in the (G3) one-mile Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, Weyburn likely already has enough qualifying points to make the Kentucky Derby and try to become the third Canadian-bred colt to capture the roses.
He won the Gotham with a good stalking trip before wearing down the pace setter in deep stretch to prevail by a nose. Overall he sports a record of two wins and a runner-up finish in four starts.
Trainer Jimmy Jerkens and jockey Trevor McCarthy both try for their first Wood win.
2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Crowded Trade Race Odds: 4-1
The tough-luck runner up in the Gotham, Crowded Trade had to overcome a bobble at the start of that event but still managed to get up on the pace, got to the lead in the stretch but just couldn’t manage to hold off Weyburn at the wire.
Unraced as a two-year-old, he hit the ground running to win his career debut in his only other start, also on the Aqueduct dirt.
He’s the second entry in here for Chad Brown with jockey Eric Cancel getting the mount.
2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Brooklyn Strong Race Odds: 6-1
New York-bred Brooklyn Strong makes his three-year-old debut after closing out 2020 with a win in the (G3) Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. In that race he finished nine lengths ahead of Known Agenda who last weekend captured the (G1) Florida Derby.
Prior to that he had won the Sleepy Hollow Stakes at racing one mile at Belmont Park.
He’s trained by Danny Velazquez, Manny Franco is the jock.
Here’s My 2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Free Pick.
This is a very tough handicapping race, and a case could easily be made for several in here. Having a last out win at the track is always a significant handicapping angle and three of those listed above fit that criteria. With a win both at the track and distance, Risk Taking would seem to have the edge.
But having said that, I’m going to go back to the Gotham and pick the one-two finishers in Weyburn and Crowded Trade to battle for top spot again. Of the two I think Weyburn will better handle the distance and he’s the win pick.
Full Field: Wood Memorial Stakes Betting Odds
- Risk Taking 5-2
- Prevalence 3-1
- Crowded Trade 4-1
- Weyburn 9-2
- Brooklyn Strong 6-1
- Dynmaic One 12-1
- Candy Man Rocket 12-1
- Bourbonic 30-1
- Market Maven 30-1
What do you think of our 2021 Wood Memorial Stakes Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
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