Wood Memorial Picks, Predictions, Odds

The 148th Kentucky Derby is scheduled to take place on Saturday May 7, 2022 from Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby prep schedule continues to heat up during the months of March and April.

VegasInsider horse racing expert Anthony Stabile will be providing his Free Picks and Finish Predictions for key races throughout the prep season and he's focusing on one race for Saturday April 2, 2022 -- the 2022 Wood Memorial.

Wood Memorial Resources

• Date: Saturday, April 9, 2022
• Post-Time: 4:45 p.m. ET
• Race: 8
• Distance-Length: Dirt, 1 1/8 Miles
• Qualification: Three-year-olds
• Track: Aqueduct Racetrack
• Location: South Ozone Park, New York

Betting On The Wood Memorial

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites:

TVG | AmWager | TwinSpires | Daily Racing Form | Horse Racing Betting Hub

Wood Memorial Betting Analysis

1) MO DONEGAL

Rail drawn colt owns a 9 furlong G2 stakes win over this track and he did it in a roughly run renewal of the Remsen Stakes late last fall. His return effort in the G3 Holy Bull in Florida served to shake a little rust off but he had early trouble before running on as a colt who needed a race. Love the way he’s been working of late down south as he ships back up here and with his regular pilot out of town he gets a terrific replacement in Joel Rosario in the saddle. Huge threat to get back on his game today.

2) GOLDEN CODE

Ran well for third money behind an open lengths winner in the G3 Gotham, the local prep for this race, but that guy returns in this spot as well. He’s got some route blood in him and a top barn in his corner, but this New York bred will need to improve to threaten here.

3) EARLY VOTING

He’s looked pretty good in winning each of his two starts and has had some time since the sharp front running G3 Withers score at this trip over a track that was kind to off the pace types, a race in which the runner up returned to take the G2 Rebel at Oaklawn Park. Residing in the top barn of Chad Brown, there figures to be plenty of upside to this speedster.

4) LONG TERM

Maiden finished second in each of his four career starts including a solid placing at today’s nine furlong distance the first week of the year. His sharp barn will remove the blinkers and maybe that helps him some but he will take a good step up the class ladder for this.

5) MORELLO

Tough to fault this undefeated runner who has kicked away from his foes late in the lane in each of his three open lengths scores while improving his number significantly in each of those stakes wins. It doesn’t appear as if the added ground will impact him and he should be close to the leaders from the outset. Dangerous foe.

6) SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING

The stretch back out to two turns resulted in a big win and he earned his career best speed figure in his Gulfstream Park finale as well. He wasn’t close in either of his stakes tries against cheaper so we can only watch him in this spot.

7) A.P.'S SECRET

He’s another shipping up here from Florida after showing little late as a pace presence in the G2 Fountain of Youth. His speed should again have him involved from the bell but don’t think he’s good enough to make much of an impact deep in the lane.

8) BARESE

Undefeated New York bred draws the outside slot for his first try with graded stakes runners and he catches a field that looks to contain a good amount of pace. Don’t know that he’ll prove to be a true two turn runner, but he has little trouble passing foes and certainly can’t be overlooked at what figures to be a solid price.

IF I’M RIGHT…

3 – EARLY VOTING bounces out of the gate fresh and never looks back with 1 – MO DONEGAL posing his most serious threat in the lane. 5 – MORELLO tries to pounce from close range but can only manage to secure third money.

HOW I WOULD INVEST $100…

• $30 EXACTA BOX 1-3
• $10 EXACTA 1, 3 over 5, 8