Brown approaching 3,000 win milestone as Iron Honor readies for G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino

• Brown approaching 3,000 win milestone as Iron Honor readies for G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino
• Buetane ready to fire in G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino
• Beckman well-represented with Ocelli, Nycon and Stowaway on Wood Memorial card
• Albus looks to make some magic in G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino
• Two Bits stretches out in G3 Gazelle, Minorinconvenience does the same in G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino
• Over and OIlie to Laurel Park for Native Dancer; Igniter, Sculcos Folly set for Big A stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, who is rapidly approaching his 3,000th career win, will send out the undefeated Iron Honor in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, at Aqueduct Racetrack. The nine-furlong route for sophomores offers a respective 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

The lucrative Wood Memorial [Race 12] card is bolstered by the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets for older horses sprinting seven furlongs [Race 6]; the Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points [Race 11]; the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff at seven furlongs for older fillies and mares [Race 10]; and the Listed $150,000 Excelsior at 1 1/4 miles for older horses [Race 3]. First post on the 12-race program is 12:40 p.m. Eastern. 

Brown, in search of his first Wood Memorial victory, is at 2,996 career wins heading into Thursday’s racing action.

“I’d love to do it in New York,” said Brown, who reached his 1,000th and 2,000th career wins at Saratoga Race Course.

St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence and Glassman Racing’s Iron Honor will stretch out in distance from a pair of prominent scores at the Big A, graduating in a key six-furlong sprint on December 13 ahead of a one-length score over Crown the Buckeye in the one-turn mile Grade 3 Gotham on February 28. Iron Honor earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure on debut and a 90 for his Gotham effort, which also garnered 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Iron Honor will exit the outermost post 12 under returning rider Manny Franco, moving one post inward as stablemate Ottinho [post 11, Dylan Davis] will scratch in favor of Saturday’s Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland where he drew the outermost post 9 under Flavien Prat.

The outside draws continue an ongoing trend that began last month for Brown, who saw Emerging Market win the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby from the outermost post 9, while the promising Canaletto ran third from the outermost post 9 in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby.

“I’m on a bit of a run here drawing outside posts,” Brown said, with a laugh. “It’s remarkable but it’s part of horse racing and just the luck of the draw.

“Iron Honor is doing really well,” Brown continued. “I’ve been looking forward to getting him around two turns. If he breaks good from the gate, hopefully he can get up and over and we’ll see how everyone finds their spot into that first turn.”

Iron Honor was tenacious in the Gotham, where he raced between the sharp-starting Dirty Rich to his outside and Crown the Buckeye to his inside in the early going, before asserting through the turn en route to a game win.

Brown said the win was particularly impressive as Iron Honor had missed training leading up to the race after shipping up late from Payson Park in Florida due to inclement weather in New York.

“Even though he was down in Florida where the weather was much better than in New York, he definitely had an interrupted schedule,” Brown explained. “He had a bit of a minor issue – an infection in his hind leg when he first arrived – and he missed a bunch of training. Once we got him going, he trained well.

“On the week of the race, I had to delay the van two days, so he really only arrived three days before the race after a long trip,” Brown added. “When he got there the track was frozen, so I had to jog the horse into the race – he never galloped. For him to win the race – with a challenging trip between horses through a stiff half in 46 – halfway through the race, I was just hoping he would finish on the board. The fact that he was able to persevere and still win, he earned even more respect from me.”

Franco was aboard Iron Honor for a half-mile breeze in 49.31 seconds to the outside of Ottinho on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“Both horses are doing well. It’s nice to split them up,” Brown said. “Both horses have been a good team, and I expect both of them to step up in their next starts based on how forward they’ve been training in the morning.”

A $475,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Iron Honor was bred in Kentucky by Mike Freeny and Pat Freeny and is out of the winning Blame mare Orencia, a half-sister to stakes-placed My Savannah Belle.

Three Chimneys Farm’s Kentucky homebred Ottinho, by Quality Road, is a half-brother to Hall of Famer Gun Runner and a full-brother to the Brown-trained Grade 3-winner Pretty Ana, out of the Grade 2-winning Giant’s Causeway mare Quiet Giant.

He will try nine furlongs for the third consecutive time in the Blue Grass after graduating at second asking here in December and following last out with a distant third in the Listed Withers won by Wood Memorial contender Talk to Me Jimmy.

Ottinho, who picked up six Kentucky Derby points in the Withers, has trained with blinkers on and will race in them for the first time on Saturday.

“He's always been a horse that showed a lot of ability. He’s a beautiful horse and super bred,” Brown said. “He’s looking for as much ground as you can give him, but he’s a little bit inconsistent in his training mentally. He’s a little on and off the bridle at times, waiting for his cues and such. We put a small blinker on the horse, and he seems to have moved a bit forward, a little bit more willing to be consistent throughout his workouts. I’m hoping he'll move up a few lengths with those.

“It's a challenging post, not quite as bad as the 11 in the Wood,” Brown continued. “Hopefully there’s a decent pace in the race to string the field out into the first turn and everyone in the race can find a fair spot.”

Brown noted that Klaravich Stables’ undefeated Emerging Market has emerged from his Louisiana Derby score, which earned a 90 Beyer and 100 Kentucky Derby points, in good order. He said he’s hopeful that Emerging Market will be joined by a couple other stablemates next month in the ‘Run for the Roses’ as they look to pick up the torch for previous Kentucky Derby favorite Paladin, a dual Grade 2-winner, who sustained a right-front ankle injury training up to the Blue Grass.

“They are going to have to grab the ball now and run with it up the court because of Paladin. We were headed that way, but Paladin was the most accomplished,” Brown said. “Emerging Market came out of his race well. He’s at Payson and he’ll get back onto the work tab this weekend coming up. He’ll train at Payson until April 18 and then move over to Churchill if he’s good and healthy.”

Brown will be busy on the Wood Memorial undercard as he sends out St. Elias Stable’s undefeated Florida-homebred Rated by Merit [post 5, Manny Franco] in the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets [Race 6]. The seven-furlong sprint for older horses is headlined by the reigning Champion Male Sprinter Book’em Danno.

The 4-year-old Batallion Runner colt made his first four starts as a juvenile in 2024 at Gulfstream Park in the care of trainer Michael Yates. His victories included restricted stakes scores for registered Florida-sired horses in the six-furlong Dr. Fager, the seven-furlong Affirmed and the 1 1/16-mile In Reality.

Last out, he returned from a more than 10-month layoff in October at Belmont at the Big A to capture the $125,000 Discovery, a one-turn mile restricted to 3-year-olds yet to have won a graded race at one-mile or over in 2025. Rated by Merit reportedly required time off for bone bruising ahead of the Discovery, which earned a career-best 106 Beyer.

Brown said Rated by Merit has trained well at Payson Park leading into the Carter which he hopes will be a stepping stone to the Grade 1, $1 million Hill n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

“He’s a very talented horse that was transferred on to me. I only got the one race with him before he had to go to the sideline with some issues,” Brown said. “He’s bounced out of it and he’s a tough horse – he’s training really well. I thought this would be a logical spot for him with hopes of getting him onto a prestigious race like the Met Mile.

“I’m interested in getting him back out in distance but now that he’s off another layoff, this seems like the logical thing to do with him,” Brown added. “His one and only start at Aqueduct he ran quite well.”

A number of Carter contenders are cross-entered in other events on Saturday, including Acoustic Ave [scratched from a Thursday allowance here], Be You [Commonwealth at Keeneland] and Point Dume [Frank Y. Whiteley at Laurel Park], who are all expected to run in New York on Saturday according to their trainers. Trainer Ned Allard noted that Quint's Brew is more likely to race in the Whiteley.

Brown will saddle Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm’s Always a Runner [post 2, Dylan Davis] in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle [Race 11] for sophomore fillies. The nine-furlong Gazelle offers 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Oaks to the top-five finishers.

The $1.05 million yearling purchase is by Gun Runner and out of the Grade 2-placed Malibu Moon mare Always Carina, a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf-winner Structor. Both Always Carina and Structor were trained by Brown.

“She’s not a very big horse but very well made. She’s a very smooth training horse with tons of ability. She really dazzles in the mornings,” Brown said.

Always a Runner made a winning debut on February 6 at Tampa Bay Downs, romping to a well-backed 6 1/2-length victory in a one-mile and 40 yard maiden route. The winning effort earned a 59 Beyer.

“It’s a big class test. It’s not the way we envisioned getting to the Gazelle with just the one maiden run,” Brown said.

Brown said the talented dark bay is lightly raced after he had to take a step back with the filly when she came down with a virus last year.

“This filly has always showed a ton of ability and really identified herself last fall as a really talented horse – one of the best of this crop of fillies that I’ve had in my care. Unfortunately, she got really sick in the fall, and she had her start delayed,” Brown said. “We got one race into her, and she had another minor issue out of that race. She was supposed to have run a month before this as a prep for the Gazelle and she missed it. We’re having to train to the race and go from there.”

Brown will also be represented on the Saturday undercard by a pair of promising runners for Klaravich Stables in Tariff Mindset and Incentive Pay.

Tariff Mindset [post 4, Dylan Davis], a sophomore son of Tiz the Law, will take on elders in a nine-furlong allowance route in Race 4.

He won stylishly on debut after emerging slowly from post 3-of-7 and was climbing into the kickback from the muddy and sealed track under Flavien Prat. The $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase settled into the three-path into the turn with just one horse beaten and was travelling well to advance to fifth position at the stretch call.

Prat angled Tariff Mindset out at the top of the lane to bypass four embattled rivals in front of him and arrived in the final stride to notch a nose score in the one-turn mile and a 71 Beyer.

“He’s doing well,” Brown said. “He was a bit lost early in the race and warmed up a little lost according to the jockey. He really got it together late. It’s amazing he won from where he was.

“We’ll get him around two turns and some experience under his belt. I’d expect him to move forward,” Brown continued. “We’re facing older horses but it’s just a function of the distance of the race to have him step out of his age group, but I think it will serve him well for his development down the road.”

Another strong effort could see Tariff Mindset emerge as a contender for the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan on May 9 here, the local prep for the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 6 at Saratoga.

Tariff Mindset, a half-brother to stakes-placed Ocean Pointe, is out of the winning Scat Daddy mare West Palm Beach – a half-sister to Group 1-placed The Irish Rover.

Incentive Pay [post 2, Manny Franco] makes his second start off a significant layoff in a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up in Race 9.

The Volatile 4-year-old made two starts as a juvenile at Saratoga, graduating at first asking in July 2024 ahead of a troubled third in the Grade 1 Hopeful that September won by stablemate Chancer McPatrick.

Incentive Pay returned to the races on March 7 here and landed a one-length third in a seven-furlong allowance sprint over good going.

“He had a lot of promise running in the Hopeful as a 2-year-old against Chancer McPatrick. He was injured and been on the sidelines a long time. He ran a good race last time and probably needed it. He should move forward,” Brown said.
***

Buetane ready to fire in G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will send out Zedan Racing Stable’s Buetane in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, at Aqueduct Racetrack. The nine-furlong route for sophomores offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Buetane, by Tiz the Law, returns on short rest from a troubled fourth in the nine-furlong Virigina Derby, a one-turn event on March 14 at Colonial Downs. There, he exited the inside post in a field of 10 and was shuffled back through the turn and cut off by returning rival Ocelli down the lane, landing 6 1/2-lengths in arrears of the victorious Incredibolt.

Buetane subsequently shipped to New York and breezed a bullet five-eighths in 1:01.81 March 29 over the Belmont Park dirt training track. He was assigned post 12 under Martin Garcia in the Wood but will move in at least one spot with the defection of Ottinho to Saturday’s Grade 1 Blue Grass, at Keeneland.

“He came back and worked well,” said Baffert, who won this event last year with Rodriguez. “He really didn’t get a chance to run at Colonial – he broke a little slow and then every gap was blocked. He came out of it well, so we thought we’d give him one more swing at it.

“He went from the one-hole to the outside,” Baffert continued. “He’s a horse that’s maturing as he’s going along. This will be a good test for him.”

Buetane graduated in his six-furlong debut in August at Del Mar ahead of seven-furlong seconds in the Grade 1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful in September at Saratoga and the Grade 2 San Vicente when making his seasonal bow in January at Santa Anita Park. He was a prominent third in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Southwest in February at Oaklawn Park ahead of his Virgina Derby effort.

Baffert said he is hopeful Buetane will take to the Aqueduct surface as he returns to a two-turn route.

“Does he want to go a mile and an eighth? Nobody knows until you do it. The trip he had last time, he could have run worse, but he was still fighting at the end,” Baffert said.

The Tiz the Law chestnut, a $1.15 million purchase at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, is a half-brother to stakes-winner Let My People Go out of the winning Forestry mare Taboo. His second dam is Grade 1-winning millionaire Dream of Summer, dam of Grade 1-winners Creative Cause, Vexatious and Grade 2-winner Destin.

Baffert will send out Cherokee Nation [post 1, Florent Geroux] and Potente [post 2, Juan Hernandez] in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby with 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby points on the line.

Potente has made two starts, both at Santa Anita, winning gate-to-wire sprinting six furlongs in January and following last out with a stalking head score over returning rival Robusta in the Grade 2 San Felipe. The Into Mischief bay earned 50 Kentucky Derby points and a career-best 89 Beyer in the San Felipe.

Cherokee Nation, by Not This Time, finished fifth in two previous Derby preps, earning a single point in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in November at Churchill Downs and two points in the one-mile Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis on February 7 at Santa Anita. He graduated at sixth asking last out on February 27 at Santa Anita, romping by 10 lengths in a one-mile tilt versus elders.

“They both look good coming into it. Potente is already in [the Derby] but Cherokee Nation is going to have to step up – he needs to run first or second, but good horses find a way to get there,” Baffert said.

Baffert said Potente has shown maturity beyond his two starts.

“It was impressive what he did to win a stakes second out. It shows the quality. Distance is not a problem for him,” Baffert said.

Baffert said Cherokee Nation, who earned a career-best 100 Beyer last out, will have to earn his way to the ‘Run for the Roses.’

“The way he ran last time was off the charts. He needs to repeat that effort,” Baffert said.

Baffert also has a pair of fillies in Forced Entry [post 1, Mike Smith] and French Blue [post 3, Florent Geroux] for Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks, which offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks points to the top-five finishers.

Both fillies are exiting the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel won by Forced Entry [50 points] with the pacesetting French Blue [15 points] in third. They will look to join a strong Baffert Kentucky Oaks contingent that includes Explora [95 points], who scratched from last weekend’s Grade 2 Fantasy and Bottle of Rouge [57.5 points].

“They’re both nice fillies,” Baffert said of his Santa Anita Oaks hopefuls. “We have some nice fillies this year. Unfortunately, Explora got sick but she’s fine now and coming home tomorrow.”

Bottle of Rouge, a $100,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, is owned by Baffert’s wife Jill. The Vino Rosso grey won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last year over Explora but was off-the-board in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She is undefeated in two starts this year, taking the Sunland Park Oaks in February and the Virginia Oaks last out on March 14 at Colonial.

“It’s nice to get lucky with a purchase like that,” Baffert said. “She was beautiful as a yearling, and some sire lines will tell you what you’re going to pay. She’s by a really good racehorse in Vino Rosso and the bottom side looks good. The Breeders’ Cup race is a toss – she just didn’t run well that day. She’s still maturing and doing well.”

***

Beckman well-represented with Ocelli, Nycon and Stowaway on Wood Memorial card

Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian’s Ocelli will look to become just the second maiden – after Teufel graduated in style in 1936 - to win Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, at Aqueduct Racetrack. The nine-furlong route for sophomores offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Trained by Whit Beckman, the Connect bay will scratch from Saturday’s Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland in favor of this spot.

“I have to be there for the last Wood at Aqueduct,” said Beckman, with a laugh. “I think he fits a little bit better up there and I think he’s a horse that will like Aqueduct’s track.”

Ocelli will look to make amends from a sixth-place effort last out in the nine-furlong Virigina Derby, a one-turn event on March 14 at Colonial Downs. There, he came from off-the-pace to be within a half-length of the lead at the stretch call, but had his head cocked toward the grandstand down the lane and flattened out for a 6 3/4-length defeat to Incredibolt.

Ocelli [post 5, Joe Ramos, blinkers OFF] raced with blinkers on in each of his last three outings but will remove them for the Wood Memorial.

“The whole goal with the blinkers was to get him a little more engaged the first part of the race, which we accomplished – but it also exposed another peculiarity with him trying to look around his blinkers,” Beckman said. “He was wanting to go to the rail and stare out, so we pulled the blinkers off him and hopefully that will even things out.”

Ocelli made his first two outings without blinkers, landing third on debut in November at Churchill Downs and followed with a closing second traveling 1 1/16-miles on December 20 at Fair Grounds.

“He's always run fine without them. He could have won his second start. He was right behind the winner but when the winner cut it at the three-eighths pole, it took us another sixteenth of a mile to get really engaged. He made a hell of a run, he was just a bit muted in his kick,” Beckman said.

Ocelli added blinkers and was a 1 3/4-length third from the outermost post 12 in a January maiden route at Fair Grounds won by well-regarded Reagan’s Honor, who is entered in the Blue Grass. He followed with a flat sixth in the Listed Sam F. Davis in February at Tampa Bay Downs ahead of his Virigina Derby try.

“He had a super wide trip in his next start and in the Sam Davis, he had a little issue, so we’ll throw that one out. He was too keen down the backside last time I thought,” Beckman said. “I think he will absolutely appreciate it [returning to two turns] and that long stretch at Aqueduct.”

Beckman will saddle Icon Racing Stable’s Nycon [post 3, Jaime Torres] in the Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle in Race 11. The nine-furlong route for sophomore fillies offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

The Nyquist dark bay, a $375,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, was a 3 3/4-length second to returning rival Paradise last out here in the one-mile Listed Busher. Nycon picked up 18.75 Oaks qualifying points in defeat and will scratch from Friday’s 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland in favor of the Gazelle.

“With the Ashland, it’s that mile and a sixteenth short-wire situation and I think this filly does her best running in the stretch, so I wanted to give her every bit of stretch I could to get there,” Beckman explained. “Even if she does set her self back like she did in the Busher, you can be 10 [lengths] back at the quarter-pole there and still have a hell of a shot. Some of these quicker tracks, if you’re not in better position turning for home, you’re kind of lost.”

Beckman said he is hopeful Nycon, who was second in the Cash Run in January at Gulfstream Park, will benefit from a second run over the Big A main track. Beckman won the Busher here last year with Drexel Hill en route to a runner-up effort in the Kentucky Oaks.

“She had a little trouble figuring the track out down the backside, but once she turned for home, she really picked it up – she reminded me of Drexel Hill. I think her next start up there, she’ll be a little more wiser to the surface,” Beckman said.

Beckman will send out Handel Viarruel’s Stowaway [post 1, Joe Ramos] in the Listed $150,000 Excelsior, a 10-furlong route for older horses in Race 3.

The 7-year-old Gun Runner gelding launched his career in mainly Tapeta routes at Woodbine Racetrack in the care of Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and later Michael Mattine. He made one start for Beckman in 2024,winning a one-mile allowance at Churchill Downs ahead of a 4-0-2-1 campaign last year completed by a three-quarter length third in the 1 1/16-mile Listed Tenacious in December at Fair Grounds that earned a career-best 100 Beyer.

Stowaway was subsequently a distant fifth in the Grade 3 Mineshaft ahead of a 2 1/4-length second last out in snowy conditions in an 11-furlong handicap on March 12 at Colonial.

“I wish I could tell you how that last race went but it was a blizzard, so all I know is he broke and then he finished,” said Beckman, with a laugh. “He’s a true distance horse. He’s an older horse and we’ve got him into a good rhythm on dirt. The Tenacious was a mile and a sixteenth and he’s never been that type of horse. We were real thrilled with his effort there. A little lackluster in the next race [Mineshaft] – but it was a real speed favoriting track that day and he just never got a clear shot at anything. I think at this distance on this track, he’s going to be in a better position to make his run.”

Stowaway, bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, has banked $234,718 via a 19-2-4-4 ledger.
***

Albus looks to make some magic in G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino

Pin Oak Stud is already on their way to the Kentucky Derby with the Riley Mott-trained Incredibolt and will try to double their chances in the “Run for the Roses” as Albus takes on Saturday’s nine-furlong Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, a 100-50-25-15-10 qualifier for the Kentucky Derby.

The 12-race card is bolstered by the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets for older horses sprinting seven furlongs [Race 6]; the Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points [Race 11]; the Grade 3, $150,000 Distaff at seven furlongs for older fillies and mares [Race 10]; and the Listed $150,000 Excelsior at 1 1/4 miles for older horses [Race 3]. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern. 

The Riley Mott-trained Albus looks to conjure up his first stakes score off an impressive 6 3/4-length graduation at third asking in a one-mile and 40-yard maiden tilt on February 27 at Tampa Bay Downs. There, he stalked in second 2 1/2 lengths behind the pace and was quick to assume command when asked by jockey Samy Camacho heading into the turn. He was met with a challenge from Argent Heir at the top of the lane but responded gamely to draw away with ease and complete the course in 1:39.91. He earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“He impressed me with the way he finished the race and galloped out,” Mott said. “I think distance will be his friend. We always thought the horse had some potential as a 2-year-old, and obviously it’s a big step up in class from a maiden to the Wood Memorial, but numbers wise, I think he fits in the race. He will certainly need to keep improving, but we’re hoping he’s on an upward trajectory.”

Albus debuted with an even fourth sprinting seven furlongs in October at Keeneland where he trailed in ninth-of-11 early but showed improvement next out when stretched out to 1 1/16 miles around two turns at Churchill Downs for a prominent third to subsequent stakes-placed Liberty National in November.

Mott said Albus’ most recent effort gives him confidence that he can be effective in the sizable Wood field, which drew 13 entrants with 12 expected to start as Ottinho is rerouted to Keeneland’s Grade 1 Blue Grass. 

“I would imagine in a full field in the Wood, there will probably be a little pace in front of him, and if he breaks well, he’s got the ability to lay close – I think that’s pretty important,” Mott said. “We’re hopeful he’ll appreciate the mile and an eighth.”

Albus joins Pin Oak Stable color-bearer Incredibolt on the Road to the Kentucky Derby after the latter won the Grade 3 Street Sense at Churchill as a juvenile and the Virginia Derby last out on March 14 at Colonial Downs to secure his place in the Derby starting gate. The two colts are the latest success stories for the connections, who teamed up last year to win the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational with World Beater for Mott’s first Grade 1 victory.

Mott spoke highly of Pin Oak Stud.

“It’s really special and exciting, and it’s not a surprise given the work Pin Oak puts in the sales process, the scouting and purchasing, and the way they break horses on the farm,” Mott said. “The success they’ve had is certainly exciting and welcome, but at the same time, not a surprise.”

Albus, a son of Yaupon, was a $320,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of Bernardini mare Adream, a half-sister to dual Grade 1-winner and influential broodmare Dream Rush. He is a half-brother to Grade 3-winner Song of Spring.

Jaime Torres, who was aboard Albus for his first two starts, returns to the irons from post 7 [12-1ML] in the Wood Memorial.

Incredibolt, a son of Bolt d’Oro, returned to the work tab on Saturday at Palm Meadows Training Center to post his first work back since the Virginia Derby, covering a half-mile in 49.45 seconds.

The dark bay was a four-length winner of the one-turn nine-furlong Virginia Derby, stalking and pouncing from fourth under Torres and kicking clear in the stretch to post the decisive victory over Grittiness. It was a considerable reversal of form for Incredibolt after he finished a dismal sixth, beaten 25 1/4 lengths, in his seasonal bow in the Grade 3 Holy Bull in January at Gulfstream Park.

Mott said he is pleased with the way Incredibolt has come along since the Virginia Derby.

“He’s doing really good, and he came out of it in good order,” Mott said. “We are on target for the First Saturday in May and we’re just hoping to keep him happy and sound. He always showed ability from a young 2-year-old, so we always graded him as one of our top babies. The way he won the Viriginia Derby was a welcome sight considering how poorly he ran in the Holy Bull. We’re hopeful he can keep improving, and we’re just happy to be in the mix.”

For Mott, who worked as a longtime assistant to his father, Hall of Famer Bill Mott, and went out on his own in 2022, having two promising colts on the Kentucky Derby trail is a sign of even better things to come.

“It’s been really exciting for a young stable like us,” Mott said. “It’s a big boost, and hopefully we can make some noise in the 3-year-old division and let people know that if we come across a horse of that caliber, we’re able to handle it and point the horse in the right direction.”

***

Two Bits stretches out in G3 Gazelle, Minorinconvenience does the same in G2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino

EGL-One Racing’s Two Bits [post 4, Jaime Rodriguez] stretches out in distance for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle, a nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack. The race awards 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks points respectively to the top-five finishers.

Trained by Amelia Green, the American Pharoah bay boasts a field-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure for a last-out neck victory in the seven-furlong Ruthless on February 6 here. Her prior three starts were at one-mile, including an 11 1/2-length second in the one-turn Busanda on January 3 here to earn 10 Kentucky Oaks points, and a fourth in the two-turn White Clay Creek as a maiden in October at Delaware Park.

“This is what we’ve been targeting since her last race,” said Green. “Obviously, she’s never gone a mile and an eighth, but she did go two turns when she was still a maiden at Delaware Park. I’m confident she’ll be OK going two turns. She’s just going against tougher horses, so we’ll see how she stacks up. She’s been training very well, and I like how she is doing.”

Two Bits was game in her last-out victory to outlast Interstatelovesong in a stretch duel.

“I was very proud of that performance,” Green said. “The numbers all came back good. I think no matter what numbers you look at, they match up or top the other fillies in this race. From that point of view, we are pretty confident going into Saturday, but like everybody else, the mile and an eighth is a question.”

Green believes Two Bits has improved since her Oaks-trail runner-up finish in the Busanda.

“I think we were beaten by a nice horse that day,” Green said. “We were proud even finishing second. I think Two Bits has improved since then. I’m not saying we’d beat that filly back because she won by over 10 lengths, but I think we’d be a bit closer this time.”

Amanda Gillman, Upland Flats Racing and Green’s New York-bred Minorinconvenience [post 6, Jaime Rodriguez] will stretch out around two turns for the first time in same card’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, a nine-furlong 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifier for sophomores.

The Mendelssohn gray won the six-furlong state-bred Funny Cide in August at Saratoga Race Course ahead of a last-out second to Sculcos Folly in the one-turn mile Gander for New York-breds on March 7 here.

“We are excited. It is obviously an ambitious spot. I think everyone is in the same positioning aspect, looking at the race, [thinking] ‘If we were going to give it a chance, why not? Especially the Wood,’” Green said. “He likes the track, he likes the surface, in the Gander he got beat by a horse that was on the lead the whole way and got a 90-something Beyer [92]. Minorinconvenience didn’t quit, he galloped out in front of everyone, so although he’s never gone two turns, he’s always trained like the further the better. I’m pretty excited to see him go a mile and an eighth.”

The deep Wood Memorial field, on paper, seems to have an abundance of speed.

“I would like to think we’ll be pretty close up. I don’t know necessarily if I’d want to be on the lead, but I wouldn’t be mad if he was. I think everyone will have the same answer: everyone ideally wants a stalking trip,” Green said. “I don’t mind our draw in post 6, not too wide, not stuck on the rail, I think it was a good draw and it will be up to Jaime at the end of the day.”

Minorinconvenenience was bred by Steve Barberino and purchased for $20,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. He is out of the winning Mission Impazible mare Skyler’s Lil Cutie, a half-sister to turf stakes winner Cloud Control.

“He is a very well-balanced horse, light on his feet,” Green said. “When galloping on the dirt, you can barely hear him hitting the ground. Distance doesn’t look like it will be an issue.”

***

Over and Ollie to Laurel Park for Native Dancer; Igniter, Sculcos Folly set for Big A stakes

Dennis Narlinger’s Over and Ollie will bypass Saturday’s 10-furlong Listed $150,000 Excelsior at Aqueduct Racetrack in favor of the nine-furlong $100,000 Native Dancer on the same day at Laurel Park.

Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. said the slightly shorter distance was a factor in the decision on where to race the 6-year-old Cairo Prince gelding, who stretches out from a troubled sixth last out in the seven-furlong Listed Toboggan here.

“That played into it along with the competition we’re seeing on paper. Both those things helped us make that decision,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “It looks like he wants to go two turns the way he's built. I've been wanting to do it for quite a while, and it just hasn't been able to connect the right way. Right now, he's doing real good and he's in a real good zone.”

Over and Ollie has made all six starts around one turn since joining the Dutrow, Jr. barn last summer. He earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure in a July optional-claimer sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs at Saratoga Race Course and improved to a career-best 97 with a three-quarter length win in December here going the same distance.

“He’s one of those long and lean guys. He doesn’t look like a sprinter, but we know he can nail that,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “So, hopefully he likes Laurel and runs big down there. He’s given me all indications he’s got a chance of running a big race.”

Over and Ollie worked a half-mile in 51.05 seconds Tuesday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“He worked good. He’s been training very good for the last month. We’re very happy with him,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “I'm very happy with him and this is a good time to try him going two turns.”

Over and Ollie will exit post 2 at Laurel Park with Angel Cruz up.

Trainer Rob Atras indicated earlier this week that Otello, who is also cross-entered in both the Native Dancer and the Excelsior, is expected to race in New York.

Michael Dubb’s Sculcos Folly, a 3-year-old New York-bred-and-sired son of Redesdale, worked a half-mile in 53.63 Tuesday over the Belmont dirt training track in preparation for the $200,000 Mind Your Biscuits division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series – a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for eligible state-sired sophomores on April 11 here.

“He worked good. He’s in a good zone. I just want to keep him right there. He’s never been a good workhorse as far as times go, but he’s taking care of himself. We’re happy with him,” Dutrow, Jr. said.

Sculcos Folly faced state-bred company for the first time last out and romped to victory in the one-turn mile Gander, putting 5 3/4-lenghts on Minorinconvenience, who is entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino here. The winning effort earned a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

Dutrow, Jr. said the four-time winner is in fine fettle.

“He looks like a seal, he's so slick and lean and sharp looking,” Dutrow, Jr. said.

Dutrow, Jr. noted that Three Chimneys Farm’s Kentucky homebred Igniter remains on point for the Listed $150,000 Bay Shore, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores on April 18 at the Big A.

“He's a happy horse and he's doing very good. I can't wait to watch him run again,” Dutrow, Jr. said.

The Volatile chestnut graduated at second asking here in September traveling a one-turn mile ahead of a distant sixth in the local nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen in December while trying two turns for the first time.

He followed with a pair of local one-turn sprints, taking a seven-furlong optional-claimer by 4 1/4-lengths in February ahead of a prominent one-length win last out in the six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield on March 14.

“He's beat solid horses and hopefully he keeps doing it. He's doing good, man,” Dutrow, Jr. said.

Igniter is out of the Grade 1-winning Malibu Moon mare Malibu Prayer, who is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Valid.