It was a great day of graded stakes racing Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack. Five stakes with total purses of almost $2 million were contested under sunny skies!
$150,000 Excelsior Stakes (Grade 3)
$250,000 Bay Shore Stakes (Grade 3)
$300,000 Gazelle Stakes (Grade 2)
$400,000 Carter Handicap (Grade 1)
$750,000 Wood Memorial (Grade 2)
Our (Woodford Racing) graded stakes winner Engage was making his 3 year old debut in the Bay Shore Stakes. Despite having not raced since winning the Grade 3 Futurity at Belmont in October, Engage went off a slight favorite in the seven horse field. After settling just off the leaders down the backstretch, Engage made his move at the top of the stretch but was outfinished by the eventual winner (National Flag). Despite finishing second, Engage ran extremely well and will benefit from the experience gained in the race. Below is a video link of the Bay Shore Stakes.
The final stakes race of the day was the Wood Memorial which is a storied race that dates back to 1925. Throughout the years the race has been won by many of racing’s greatest champions (Seattle Slew, Foolish Pleasure, Damascus, Bold Ruler, Native Dancer, Nashua). In addition to the $750,000 purse, the Wood Memorial is one of the final Kentucky Derby prep races with the winner assured of being in the Derby starting gate. I had a chance to spend some time with Jim Kelly prior to the running of the Wood. Kelly is a descendant of Eugene D. Wood (former New York State politician and founder of Jamaica Racetrack) and for whom the race is named. Jim has had the honor of giving the Wood Memorial trophy to the winning owner over many years.
Jim Kelly
It’s always fun to see racing’s stars showcased on a day full of stakes races.