Albus captures final G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino contested at the Big A

Pin Oak Stud’s Albus has improved in every one of his career starts and continued that trajectory in his stakes debut under a terrific ride by Jaime Torres to post a 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s 101st running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trainer Riley Mott now has two potential entrants for Pin Oak Stud in anticipation of his first Kentucky Derby experience as head trainer, as Albus joins Virginia Derby-winner Incredibolt on the list of potential starters.

“Never would I have thought going into this year that would be happening, but we still have a long ways to go and I just hope both colts stay happy and healthy and that we can put them in the gate that day,” Mott said. “This horse [Albus] will go right to Churchill and is scheduled to leave on Monday. It’s fun to take him there and be qualified for the Derby and not just be a bystander and watch. We’re thrilled and we’ll let the good times roll.”

The 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial, offering a respective 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers for the “Run for the Roses” on May 2 at Churchill Downs, saw Albus, at 11-1, punch his ticket to the opener of the Triple Crown, fending off 38-1 Right to Party. Ocelli [28-1] ran third, just a nose back of Right to Party, while 7-1 Bravaro edged Napoleon Solo by a neck for fourth in the high-priced superfecta.

Courting, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher in an unsuccessful bid for a record-tying eighth Wood Memorial victory, was sixth after being pinched back at the break, with Iron Honor, Talk to Me Jimmy, Steel, Minorinconvenience, Buetane and Red Zone Runner, who broke inward from post 10, completing the order of finish. The Chad Brown-trained Ottinho scratched to run second in Saturday’s Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Albus, a Yaupon colt purchased for $320,000 at the 2024 Keeneland Yearling Sale, won the last-ever Wood held at the Big A before it moves to the new and re-imagined Belmont Park next year. The prestigious race, named for former Jamaica Race Course president Eugene D. Wood, was moved to Aqueduct in 1960 and has been one of the track’s signature competitions since. Overall, 11 horses in the Wood’s history used a victory to springboard a campaign that resulted in a Kentucky Derby win, most recently Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000.

Albus broke his maiden at third asking in his previous start, winning by 6 3/4 lengths going two turns at Tampa Bay Downs on February 27. Moved up to stakes competition on the Derby trail, he benefitted from a strong trip from 2024 Preakness-winner Torres, who overtook 5-2 favorite Iron Honor from the inside when straightened for home before picking off rivals Talk to Me Jimmy, Bravaro and Napoleon Solo to his inside. Torres’ encouragement and strong hand-ride to the finish allowed him to hit the wire in 1:51.71 to clinch a spot in the Derby.

"The first turn, I was far back. I was farther back than I wanted to be,” Torres said. “I got kicked out of the race, but in the backside, he gave me a good feeling. I asked him to jump on the bit and he did really good. I knew we were going to catch them at the end. I stayed calm. By the three-eighths pole, I thought I'd win the race.

"I didn't want to be that far from the speed,” Torres added. “I knew the pace was going to be pretty solid, so I wasn't that scared at the back."

Last year’s Grade 1 Champagne-winner Napoleon Solo led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.92 seconds, the half in 47.30 and three-quarters in 1:12.04 on a fast track before Albus’s rally.

“I was really happy down the backside with our position,” Mott said. “Jaime was comfortable, got into a nice rhythm. They went pretty quick the first quarter, but slowed it down a bit, 47 and change. Jaime said when he asked him, he felt like the horse really had a lot of power underneath him. Jaime said at the quarter pole, he knew if the horse went through the hole, he’d probably win. At the eighth pole, when he made the lead, the horse tried to idle a little bit, sort of waiting on horses and being a little bit immature, which he is still – it’s his fourth career start. It was great to see him finish it off like that.”

Mott, who earlier in the week said the nine-furlong distance could be an asset for Albus, was proven correct. Bred in the Bluegrass State by Susan Casner, Albus paid $25.78 on a $2 win wager and improved his career earnings to $436,288.

“He’s laid close, he’s come from out of it today, taken kickback… it gives you a lot of confidence,” Mott said. “He obviously handled the distance, and I think he can get more. Hopefully, there’s another race in a few weeks at a mile and a quarter [laughs]. He showed a lot of professionalism today.”

Chester Broman, Sr.’s Right to Party, who ran third in the Grade 3 Gotham going one mile in February at the Big A in another local Derby prep, put himself in the Derby conversation with a strong effort for trainer Ken McPeek, stretching out to two turns for the first time.

"I felt like I had a really good trip, saved all the ground both turns," said Right to Party jockey Christopher Elliott. “I saw some horses fading in front of me, so I had to get him out and he ran a really good race. The seven [Albus] got the jump on me, but I'm excited for this horse's future. Think the more distance, the better. I think the farther he goes, the better he will get." 

McPeek said Right to Party will be nominated to the Triple Crown, with a deadline of April 6, and he will strongly consider running him in the Derby.

Ocelli, who entered off back-to-back sixth place finishes in stakes for trainer Whit Beckman, posted the best effort of his young career, while racing with blinkers off under Joseph Ramos leading the maiden to black type.

“Horse ran huge,” Ramos said. “We broke out of there and with blinkers off, he was a little spooked with the dirt kicked at his face. We didn't get in much traffic, it was a clean trip that worked out for us. Turning for home, I asked him and he gave me everything he had. He ran huge. We were just nailed for second. I think Whit Beckman made a huge decision taking the blinkers off and I think it worked out perfect. We got beat by nice horses. We were running against the best, what else could we ask for?" 

Trainer Chad Brown, who won two races on the Big A card to bring his career total to 3,998 wins, saw his Iron Honor have a difficult trip when brushing with Red Zone Runner into the first turn. Iron Honor went off as the 5-2 favorite from the outermost post 12, but Brown still has high hopes for the Nyquist colt who won the Grade 3 Gotham last out in February at Aqueduct.

"This horse is really good. I didn't like how it unfolded at all for him after he got slammed [going into the first turn],” Brown said. “He was flat on the bit down the backside. You'll see in the head on, he was pulling the whole way. It didn't really work out for him out there, but let me see how he comes out of it and go from there, talk to the partners.”

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct with a seven-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern. 

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