Countdown to the Wood Memorial

As we count down to the final minutes before the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the paddock is chock full of people.

Imperial Council, the second betting choice in the race, has been very hard to handle by his people and seems really keyed up today.

The rest of the horses seem very calm and not bothered by the extra attention before the race.

Horses also that are close to the lead seem to have an advantage so watch closely as the Wood Memorial gets rolling

Bay Shore - Sweet Victory for the Candyman

The first big race of the day at Aqueduct is in the books just as the sun is trying to break through.

Capt. Candyman Can, a horse that was once considered a major contender for the Kentucky Derby, rolled to an easy victory 3 3/4-length win over another former Derby hopeful Taqarub.

Trainer Ian Wilkes, who worked for many years for Carl Nafzger, will bring the horse right back to Churchill Downs and run him in the Matt Winn Stakes on May 16. Looks like "Derby fever" will not affect the "Candyman crew" as they are ultimately are shooting for the King's Bishop at Saratoga in August.

Saturday 1:00 p.m.

In the Aqueduct Press Box for Wood Memorial Day....a Press Box that is about three-quarters full in a nice and rare site. Normally, there is just a small group of people here.

Plus the dulcet tones of track announcer Tom Durkin, the best in the game, are back from his winter hiatus. New York racing is not the same without Durkin.

It is a windy day and the clouds do not appear to want to go away. But, after a cold winter, it's in the 50's so not a bad day.

All the horses in the big races around the country are still slated to run including the four stakes races here at Aqueduct.

Will be back later as the big races get rolling.

Maiden Voyage

Welcome to my new blog. Before we get this race started, a quick introduction is in order for those who don't me. (If you already know me, please skip ahead a couple of paragraphs.)

My love of horse racing started when I was a kid watching racing at Aqueduct and Belmont in New York. I then moved my tack to Louisville to attend the University of Louisville's Equine Administration program. While finishing up my degree in 1996, I began an internship at Churchill Downs and landed a full-time job there upon graduation in 1997. While rounding the final turn of my Churchill tenure (ok, 2003), I began co-hosting the Kentucky Winners Circle Radio Show with E.J. Clark (for those in Louisville: Saturdays, 11am, WKJK-1080 on your AM dial).

I moved back to New York in November 2004 but my love of racing has endured. I still co-host the radio show and attend the races frequently.

Now that we've crossed the finish line on my bio to-date, it's on to the blog. It is my sincerest hope that the perspective and insights I have into the racing world are both informative and intriguing (and perhaps find you a winner for the betting windows).

To say this weekend is incredibly important for the Kentucky Derby contenders, is an understatement. The potential field is starting to take shape but it looks like more than 20 want to be in the starting gate.

And what complicates it even more is that one spot is already reserved for Mafaaz, the winner of the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes in England last month. So with only 19 spots left, and six major races before the Derby, the scramble for cash is on.

This week's race to keep a close eye on are:
Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in NY
Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita in Los Angeles
Illinois Derby at Hawthorne in Chicago

I will update the horses to watch and the crucial money chase on Thursday.

Stay tuned!