El Kabeir the one to beat in TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial

El Kabeir will be seeking his fourth graded stakes win since late November (Adam Coglianese Photo) El Kabeir (Scat Daddy) thrived over the winter at Aqueduct, posting convincing wins in the Gotham (G3) and Jerome (G3), and will enter the Kentucky Derby (G1) as the points’ leader if able to carry his form forward in Saturday’s $1 million TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (G1). The 1 1/8-mile race serves as one of the final major prep races in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, awarding points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top four finishers, and El Kabeir presently sits fifth on the Leaderboard with 75 points. No other Kentucky Derby prospect will be able to match a 175-point total if he captures the prestigious event. The Zayat Stables colorbearer’s lone setback this winter, a runner-up in the Withers (G3) two starts back, came at the hands of Far From Over (Blame), who was sidelined earlier this week due to an injury. That defection could easily lead to El Kabeir being favored on Saturday, especially given the outstanding turn of foot he offered to win the Gotham going away by 2 3/4 lengths, but track oddsmaker Eric Donovan has tabbed the gray colt as the 3-1 third choice on the morning line.

El Kabeir will be switching from the inner oval to the main track and the
John Terranova trainee drew post 5 in the seven-horse field with regular rider
C.C. Lopez.

A pair of Florida invaders, Daredevil (More Than Ready) and Frosted (Tapit),
are the top two morning line choices at 9-5 and 5-2, respectively.

Dareveil earned a 104 BRIS Speed rating when capturing the Champagne (G1) at
Belmont Park last October and received an outstanding 106 for his 2015 bow, a
runner-up finish in the seven-furlong Swale (G2) on March 7. The Todd
Pletcher-trained colt will be seeking his first victory around two turns,
faltering to last after a troubled trip in his lone previous attempt, the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but jockey Javier Castellano has not lost faith in
the chestnut and will retain the assignment.

The Big Beast has captured four straight  (Lauren King/Coglianese Photography) Frosted broke his maiden on Aqueduct’s main track in late October and concluded his sophomore campaign with a runner-up in the Remsen (G2). He opened this year with a respectable second to Upstart (Flatter) in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park but suddenly went off form for Kiaran McLaughlin in the February 21 Fountain of Youth (G2), coughing up the lead in upper stretch as he quickly retreated to fourth. The gray colt picks up a new rider in Joel Rosario as he attempts to rebound. Tiz Shea D (Tiznow) is potentially dangerous in his third career start. Sold and transferred to Bill Mott following a February 7 debut maiden win at Parx, the well-bred colt closed courageously up the rail in tight quarters to grab second when making his first start against winners in the Gotham. The late Triple Crown nominee is a candidate for further improvement and is listed at 8-1 from the rail with new jockey Manny Franco. A trio of expected longshots — Lieutenant Colonel (Colonel John), Tencendur (Warrior’s Reward) and Toasting Master (Congrats) — completes the line-up.

One race after the Wood, a nice group of eight sprinters will contest the
$400,000
Carter H. (G1) at seven furlongs. The Big Beast (Yes It’s True) made his
stakes bow a winning one in the King’s Bishop (G1) at Saratoga last August but
was sidelined afterward. He returned with a facile allowance tally at Oaklawn
Park on March 16, generating his third consecutive century-topping BRIS Speed
rating in the process, and the Tony Dutrow charge will be reunited with
Castellano in this spot.

Palace (City Zip), who established himself as a top sprinter on the East
Coast last year with victories in the Forego (G1), A.G. Vanderbilt (G1) and True
North (G2), merits respect in his 2015 debut. The Linda Rice pupil was last seen
finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Wild Dude (Wildcat Heir) has
shipped for Jerry Hollendorfer off a victory in the March 7 San Carlos (G2) at
Santa Anita and will add local rider Irad Ortiz Jr. to the irons.

Dads Caps (Discreet Cat) makes a title defense, posting a 10-1 wire-to-wire
upset last year, and will get to avoid Salutos Amigos (Salute the Sarge) after
finishing second to that rival in the Tom Fool (G3) and Toboggan (G3) in his
last two outings. And multiple Grade 3 scorer Clearly Now (Horse Greeley) is
also past of the salty field.

Earlier on the program, Ready to Rye (City Zip) heads a field of eight
sophomores in the $300,000
Bay Shore
(G3) at seven furlongs. The Tom Albertrani-trained gelding exits a 2
3/4-length score over Daredevil in the aforementioned Swale, generating a
career-best 110 BRIS Speed figure, and will keep Luis Saez up.

His top challengers include San Vicente (G2) winner Lord Nelson (Pulpit), who is now pointing toward
one-turn races for Bob Baffert after failing in all three route attempts (three
for three in sprints), and local stakes victor Ackeret (Mach Ride).

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