The 99th edition of the Grade 2, $750,000 dollar Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Park is this Saturday, April 6th.

The race remains a prominent stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, offering 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points to the top five finishers.

The Winner will automatically earn enough points to be eligible to enter into the Kentucky Derby.

Inaugurated in 1925, the Wood Memorial (G2) has long been an important proving ground for Kentucky Derby contenders.

Originally held over a mile and 70 yards (and later 1 1/16 miles) at Jamaica Race Course, the Wood Memorial is named in memory of the late Eugene D. Wood, a New York politician who served as Jamaica’s president for over two decades.

Six of the 13 U.S. Triple Crown Winners contested the historic Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct; GALLANT FOX (1930), OMAHA (1935), COUNT FLEET (1943), ASSAULT (1946), SECRETARIAT (1973), and SEATTLE SLEW (1977) all used the Wood Memorial as a steppingstone to glory in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.

This Saturday’s contest has attracted a field of 13 on the main track, going a mile and an 8th.

Expect DETERMINISTIC and TUSCAN SKY to take the bulk of the betting dollars, both enter the Wood Memorial with a 2-for-2 record.

Of the two, DETERMINISTIC, seems a bit more seasoned, having Won on debut last August at Saratoga and then was out of action until the March 2nd Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct. Despite the long layoff and the step up into Stakes company, he turned in a strong effort to defeat the promising JUST A TOUCH by two lengths.

Having said that, it’s worth noting that the race has been Won in recent years by the likes of BOURBONIC ($146.50 in 2021) and LORD MILES ($120.50 in 2023), so anything is possible.