The Stephen Woody

The second graded race on the card for Friday afternoon will be The Stephen Woody (G2) over seven eighths of a mile on the main dirt course. The prestigious race has attracted a full field of fourteen to the starting gate for the final weekend of this year’s Triple Crown trail. With clear weather throughout the week, it looks like we’re set to have a fast track this weekend for the three-year-old’s set to go to post. Let’s take a look at the contenders. 

1. Fantasma D’Oro – xpansion6 – B. Ball – 11/1 

Going into the inside gate, this three-year-old colt by Ghostzapper will be making his first graded start of his career and will also be looking to secure his first stakes win of any form. The bay colt made his most recent start in a seven furlong listed stakes in Maryland. The colt was settled off the pace towards the rear of the six-horse field. He gained some ground on the field later on, ultimately crossing the wire in third, back off the winner by three and a quarter, while setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred two. This race was preceded by his most recent win, an allowance race over seven furlongs in Vermont.  

2. Trippinthe Trooper (SAF) – doodlegbs2 – J. Jacobsson – 6/1 

Graded placed, but still looking for the elusive graded win, this bay colt is out of the Grade I million-dollar earning broodmare Ding Dang Zip, and is the first of two offspring to go to the track. The most recent start for the son of Trippi was in Iowa this May during the Pea Shooters Handicap (G2) at six furlongs. Held back in fifth out of the starting gate in a large field, the bay colt was urged steadily early on the race to keep the pace, but only crossed the wire in fourth, just two lengths off the winner, and setting a speed figure of one hundred two.  His most recent win was in his prior start, a listed stakes race over six and a half furlongs in Kentucky. 

3. Imperial Dinero – canyontx – M. Jolly – 18/1 

In the third post will be our likely pacesetter on Friday, and yet another colt looking for his first win in graded company. The roan gelding is the first and only offspring to start out of the Grade I and million-dollar earning broodmare Hemp’s Dinero. The most recent start for the colt was this past April in Illinois during the Let’s Get Dirty (G1) over five and a half furlongs. Out of the gate sharply and to an early lead, the colt would fade in the late stretch to cross the wire fifth, setting a speed figure of ninety-four. The prior start for the colt resulted in a wire-to-wire victory in an allowance in his home state of Louisianna.  The colt also finished third during the Hopeless Stakes (G1) during his two-year-old season.  

4. Greyskull – marky45778 –M. Zeus – 13/1 

Surpassing the talents of his allowance-winning dam Frescolita, this roan colt by Cairo Prince is graded placed and making his second start against graded company this Friday.  His most recent start was this past May cross country in California during The Lazaro (G3) at seven furlongs. Held just off the pace of a couple of other early front runners, the colt came home to finish a heartbreaking third, just three-quarters of a length off the winner, while setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred five.  Prior to this the colt saw three consecutive wins, one in a six and a half furlong listed stakes, and the others at the allowance level over the same distance.  

5. Wiz On By (SKOR) – atw18 – N. Lawton – 25/1 

In the five slot we’ll have the longest shot on the board for Friday. The light gray colt will be making his first start in stakes company, graded or otherwise. This will also be the colt’s first trip to the US, having raced the entirety of his career in the other hemisphere. The colt made his most recent start in a seven-furlong allowance race in Dubai, in which he won in wire-to-wire fashion by a length and a half, while setting a speed figure of ninety-three. Despite having only six starts under his belt and no stakes starts, the colt has never finished off the board. 

6. So Many Cuss Words – donnyb – E. Sharp – 21/1 

Another longshot will head to gate six on Friday, this in the form of yet another roan colt. Making his second graded stakes attempt, he is out of the Grade I winning broodmare Far From It, who won over half a million in lifetime earnings. This colt is her first stakes winner of eight to start. The most recent start for the colt was at six and a half furlongs during an allowance race in his native Indiana. The colt won this race, running gate to wire, by one and three-quarter lengths while setting a lifetime best speed figure of ninety-nine. His lone graded start came here in New York in October of his two-year-old season during the mile long Nashua Special (G3), where, after setting off the pace in second, the colt faded in the late stretch to finish sixth. 

7. Hennyberg – kroth9 – K. Friar – 12/1 

In the seven post, making his graded stakes debut, this bay colt by Teuflesberg, could be another contender to be the pacesetter out of the gates on Friday. The bay colt made his most recent start here in New York during a six furlong listed stakes. Out to an early lead out of the gate, the colt would be nipped in the final furlongs to finish a length back in second, setting a speed figure of one hundred one, a lifetime best for the colt. Previously, the colt won two consecutive allowance races, at six and a half and seven furlongs respectively. This colt is very familiar with the track here in New York, having never raced outside of the state in his eight lifetime starts. 

8. Bladefist Bay – archer – Z. Ayya – 10/1 

Heading to the track for his second graded start, the regally bred son of American Pharoah last started here in New York during a six furlong listed stakes. The light grey colt broke out of the gate in fourth, clinging to his position for most of the race. He eventually crossed the wire third while setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred. His only graded start was in his prior start, the Let’s Get Dirty (G1), in which the colt finished eleventh. Last February the colt saw his most recent win, this over six furlongs in an allowance race in Kentucky. 

9. Guiltless Sin (JPN) – lawdro0 – H. Artack – 6/1 

The Japanese-bred colt is coming off of three consecutive wins and will be making his first start in graded company. The bay colt is the only offspring to start out of the Grade III winning No Risk No Gold. By Al Ain (JPN), the colt most recently ran during a six and a half furlong listed stakes in Colorado. Brought off from a forwardly placed pace stalking position in fourth, the colt was urged forward to win the race by a length, setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred four. Prior to this, the horse won another listed stakes, this over seven furlongs in Ohio. Added to his three straight wins, is also a seven-furlong allowance race. 

10. Ready For Munday – pendleton – D. Raymond – 11/1 

Making his first start since April, the three-year-old gelding is already a fairly well accomplished stakes runner, and will be coming back for his second consecutive graded start. The bay gelding last started in the Corkscrew Stakes (G1), a Derby Lock Prep Race over a mile and one-eighth. Set a good way off the pace early on in eleventh, the gelding made up ground in the stretch, though it was only enough to bring him home for ninth. The gelding set a speed figure of one hundred. The most recent win for the gelding was also in Kentucky, this in a listed stakes over a mile and one-sixteenth. The gelding will be dropping back in distance for this start, not having run less than a mile since his late two-year-old season. 

11. Epic Greeley Good (TUR) – matf – T. Abrams – 18/1 

Another well-seasoned graded stakes starter, this Turkish-bred bay colt is a Grade II winner and sired by After Market. Not starting since April, which came in the Florida Derby (G1), another Derby Lock Prep race, the colt faded in the late stages of the race after breaking sharply out of the gate and going straight to the front of the pack. The colt set a speed figure of ninety-seven. He saw his most recent win in just the prior start, this coming in The Saint Vincent (G2) at seven eighths of a mile. The colt took this race in wire-to-wire fashion, as seems to be his preferred running style. Prior to his most recent win, the colt had won three other consecutive starts. 

12. Elephantine – rockriver0 – W. Kewmwa – 6/1 

Set to make his ninth lifetime start on Friday, the connections of the bay three-year-old are hoping he’ll bounce back well after a recent start over a good dirt course that didn’t seem to be to the colts liking. The bay by Bernardini, made his last start here in New York during the Captain Hook (G2) at a mile and one eighth over a track that came up graded as good. Forwardly placed out of the gate, the colt started falling back fairly early, finishing eighth and setting a speed figure of ninety-eight. His most recent win was in February during the Fountain of Ute (G2), where he again settled just off the pace out of the gate, but handled the track much better, winning by a quarter length. The colt also finished fifth in this years’ Florida Derby (G1), a Derby Lock Prep. 

13. Aeriel Warfare – northernracing5 – A. Baracus – 8/1 

Coming towards the end of our field in the lucky thirteen post, this light grey colt will be making his second start in graded company. The most recent start for the colt across country in The Lazaro (G3) at seven furlongs. Setting off out of the gate placed in the middle of the pack, the cold held his position throughout the race to cross the wire sixth, setting a speed figure of one hundred one. He won in his prior race, a listed stakes race in Mexico, also over seven furlongs, while stalking just off the pace early on. 

14. Spidermantoothbrsh – sjmeola – B. Ironside – 6/1 

In the far outside post, this three-year-old gelding is coming off his first graded win and taking a step up in class this weekend in Grade I company. The bay gelding is yet another contender coming out of The Lazaro (G3) at seven furlongs in California. The gelding took the race in wire-to-wire fashion, winning by just a head at the wire and setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred six. Before his step up into graded company, the gelding won a listed stakes over seven and a half furlongs and came in third for another listed start. 

Flrancho’s Picks 

Win: Elephantine 

Place: Aeriel Warfare 

Show: Spidermantoothbrsh