Withers winner Captain Cook will look to certify himself as a serious Kentucky Derby (G1) contender in Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct. He heads a 12-horse field in the major Kentucky Derby qualifier.

Added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series in 2017, the $400,000 Remington Springboard Mile S. has yet to make much impact upon the first leg of the Triple Crown, but Saturday’s edition features a couple of prospects with serious Kentucky Derby aspirations.

Essential Quality needed nearly the entire stretch, but the classy gray colt would not be denied in Saturday’s $800,000 Blue Grass S.

Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) winner and San Felipe S. (G2) runner-up Medina Spirit will be the horse to beat in Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.