Field of strong closers do battle in the G1 Wooden Indian

New York (NY)
Saturday, April 5, 2025 — 3:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 3501432
Wooden Indian — Derby Lock Prep
Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $1,500,000
Restricted to 3-Year-Olds
9 Furlongs | ~1800 Meters | One Mile and and One Eighth

By: Sjmeola

Welcome to the 2025 Wooden Indian, the actual race equivalent to the
Wood Memorial held each year at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The weather forecast calls for a crisp 47 Degrees on a fast track.
This is a major sim prep on the road to the Bluegrass Derby.
Eleven runners have won the Wood Memorial and gone on to win the Kentucky Derby.
[Gallant Fox, 1930; Twenty Grand, 1931; Johnstown, 1939; Count Fleet, 1943; Hoop Jr.,
1945; Assault, 1946; Foolish Pleasure, 1975; Bold Forbes, 1976; Seattle Slew, 1977;
Pleasant Colony, 1981; and Fusaichi Pegasus, 2000.

Let’s take a deep dive and meet this evenly matched field for this year’s Wooden Indian.

1 MYSTIC GHOST 7-1
Ghostzapper x Giant’s Causeway x Chief’s Crown
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
8-3-2-0 105

This beautifully bred, improving son of Ghostzapper ran an impressive 105 last out in
the G3 Buccaneer Derby, where it stalked the pace and drew off to win by two.
Mystic has been beaten by some of the entrants in here, in such races as the
G1 Movieland and the sparkling wine stakes. Mystic Ghost is now faster
And a more mature racehorse. Mystic could turn the tables on these at 7-1.
We feel this one might finally be ready to run well at the highest level.
Veteran pilot J Harzheim picks up the mount for the first time.

2 SPECIFIC IMPULSE 9-1
Uncle Mo x Tapit x Giant’s Causeway
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
8-2-2-3 104
This 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo performs well but often falls short in significant races.
It closed ground in last to finish third in the G2 Sleepy Fan Stakes. Before that it
Ran eleventh in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile and a third-place finish in the Sparkling
Stakes. Its two wins came at the allowance level, so this one needs to run a career
best to win this and go on to the Bluegrass event.

3 BOLT DOWN DA ALLEY 19-1
Bolt D’ D’Oro x Flower Alley x Bernardini
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
5-2-0-0 95
This small, modestly bred colt arrived on the scene with two strong wins to start its
Career. He broke his maiden in an allowance event and followed that up
With strong e􀆯ort in the G3 Buckeye Juvenile. It then appeared in the G1
Sparkling wine, where he made a strong closing e􀆯ort to finish fourth that day.
Logically, the connections stretched out to nine furlongs in its last two races, the
G2 The Ransom Stakes and the G1 Vermont is for lovers.
Bolt ran two dismal races, finishing 13th and 10th, respectively. Rumblings on
The backstretch hinted that Bolt may have bled and will be on Lasix today.
Unfortunately, he has yet to run a 100-speed figure, and we expect more of the same.
Perhaps this may be more suited to sprint distances.

4 KYMARI THATAA 9-1
Colonel John x Tonalist x Smart Strike
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
8-3-4-1 102
This one didn’t break its maiden until its fourth start when it saw two turns for
The first time in a Msw event in Japan at one mile. This colt has banked $216,000
And has never been off the board in eight starts. As the distances increase, this one
Has gotten better. It ran a good effort against the uber-talented Candy Empire,
In the G2 Lanes End stakes, finishing third. Kymari will be closing fast down the lane,
cementing his chance at the winner’s circle. J. Scott rides for the first time.

5 TOSHI NV 9-1
Olympiad x Good Magic x More Than Ready
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
8-5-1-0 102
Toshi comes to the Wooden Indian with an impressive five wins in eight starts.
This son of Olympiad was just a neck away from winning its first four starts.
Losing a close one in the NJ dirt juvenile stakes. It has one win in three
Graded appearances, winning the G3 Dark Knight in last, putting up
A 103 speed figure. We are impressed with this colt’s versatility, winning races
From far back in the field as well as on the lead. This is often a sign of an
Exceptional racehorse, and we will be watching this one closely for the
The rest of its racing career.

6 DILLON TECH 11-1
I am invincible x Tapit x Unbridled Song
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
8-3-2-0 105
This one has only managed one win in its first six starts, a Mdn win back in July of 2024
Mom excelled on the turf, explaining why we saw three turf starts in the racing form.
It has yet to see graded action, which may be a concern here. Trainer correction from the
Midas residency may be doing a rain dance as this one is 2 for 2 on an o􀆯 track, and maybe
playable should the race come up sloppy. If Dillon decides to take another step forward, he
may be right there at double-digit odds…

7 CAPTAIN MAKER 13-1
Captain Cade x Empire Maker x Kris. S
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
9-4-1-1 102
What a fantastic story it would be if this 13-cent sire Jersey-bred can manage to
Get itself to win the Wooden Indian, let alone get a start in the Sim Kentucky Derby.
This one started its career in a 7,500 Mdn Claiming race on the grass, where it finished
Second, and is now running in the Wooden Indian. We see four wins, with three of them
coming in allowance company. Captain Maker has experienced three defeats in the G1
Northfork, Breeders Bowl Juvenile, and the Vermont is for lovers. We have to give the barn
Credit for trying to get this one a G1 win, but we just don’t see it. Captain Maker is
outrunning its breeding, which is already a win in our book.

8 BK‘S VISITANT 15-1
Visitant x Candy Ride x More Than Ready
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
8-2-3-0 94
We saw a thirteen-cent sire in this field and now a ten-cent sire.
Since I never heard of Visitant, I decided to take a peek at what
this sire is all about and what we have in store from the pixel pony
Version. Visitant was a son of Ghostzapper who had a decent career
Achieving victory in five stakes races. Beerkeg’s runner is one-dimensional
Speedball, who loves to be on the lead. His claim to fame might have
already happened, stealing the G3 Cornstalk in its customary
Wire to wire fashion. In its last three races above 8 furlongs Vizzy
Stopped badly, and this may be the toughest test yet. This one may need help from
The hospital van is to finish the nine furlongs. Beerkeg, enjoy your bu􀆯et in the owner’s box.
We prefer others in this one.

9 NOT THIS RIVER 11-1
Not This Time x Pioneer of the Nile x Awesome Again
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
5-2-0-0 102
This Not This Time runner comes into this event winning four of five races with
His only loss coming in the G1 Vermont is for Lovers last out over nine panels, where it
finished twelfth, seven and a quarter lengths back. Its best performance came in the
G3 Sam’s Town Delta, posting its career high 102 speed figure. Hard to tell if 8.5 furlongs
Is the max distance on this runner, or it just ran a clunker? You are getting juicy 11-1, should
you care to speculate on this one. We say a return to form is quite Possible considering the
classy pedigree and dominant mare.

10 SHADOWBANE 12-1
Justify x Unbridled’s Song x Danzig
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
8-2-2-1 100
This beautifully bred son of Justify is by far the class of the field running
In six graded events from 8 starts. Unfortunately, this closer wasn’t able
To win any of them. Its best performance came in the G1 Sparkling Wine,
where it only lost by a head. It followed that race up with a poor performance
in the G1 Movieland Futurity. Perhaps Shadowbane will like the added half a
furlong and come charging late down the lane. Interesting longshot that should
not be left o􀆯 your trifecta tickets.

11 THE PAINTER 9-1
Tapit x Deputy Minister x Danzig
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
8-2-2-1 101
This son of Tapit has a lot to live up to and is the second runner here from the
Beerkeg barn. Hard to believe these two horses were bred by the same syndicate.
The painter has won the “Fact of The Matter dirt juvenile” 3 back with a respectable 100
speed fig. We then saw a third-place finish in the Movieland Futurity and a fourth-place
finish in the G1 Vermont is for Lovers which was his toughest challenge to date.
Three 100 speed ratings in a row are impressive and is only one of three runners in the field
to accomplish such a feat. This one comes into the race fresh and fit and is a solid
Contender this afternoon. The painter may paint himself right into every Sim household
If it can win this race and get to the big dance.

12 ROWDYRODYPIPER 9-1
Hot Rod Charlie x Tapizar x Twirling Candy
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
6-2-2-1 102
Bizall’s sends out this 3-year-old son of Hot Rod Charlie.
We first saw this one in a Twitch 2yo event back in May, where it
won impressively. His second win came three races back
In a local event over in Japan. We noticed a steady uptick in both talent and
performance recently. Last race Rowdy broke slowly yet made a strong rally to finish
second against a talented Curlin colt named “It’s do or die”. This closer should like the
added distance of the “Wooden” and might just pin all opponents and take the
Championship belt.

13 BULL CAT ZAP 8-1
Ghostzapper x Curlin x Storm Cat
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
6-3-1-0 103
This impeccable-bred runner is trained by Rubber5 and is training at the
Northwest Racing Circuit training facility. The betters are making this one
The second choice on the tote board over the #1 Mystic Ghost.
We have yet another runner with improving speed figures and talent as the
Distances increase. John Biagi gets the mount and is excited to come in and ride
Such a talented colt. We caught up with John via telephone on Monday.
“This may be my best chance at a Derby mount, and I’m going to ride him
Like he is a champion.” Bull Cat Zaps’ best performance came in its last start
In an ungraded stakes event. The barn feels that the lack of graded experience can
be a blessing in disguise. Bull has been coddled but may be the real deal.

14 MYSTIC GASS 8-1
Mystic Guide x Empire Maker x Nureyev
Lifetime Record Lifetime Best
7-4-2-0 102
We come to our final entrant in the Wooden Indian.
A son of Mystic Guide who is one of the best runners from his
foals. Mystic Gass comes from a strong lineage of talent, as
his Mom Boxwood was a G2 winner and won over half a million dollars
on the racetrack and has been turning heads in the breeding sector of the
industry. Since Hall of Fame trainer “Stoners” stretched this one out to two turns, Mystic
has been nothing short of fantastic, coming so close to being undefeated at route
distances. Mystic ran his eyeballs out last start in the G3 Gary Asher memorial, where he
came rolling in the lane to only run out of real estate. It was a heartbreaking loss,
Mr. Stoner said, in Stoner fashion, “We will get them next time!”

Selections Runner Comment
Sj’s Top Pick 14 Mystic Gass 8-1 Time to get Stoned !
The Place Horse 1 Mystic Ghost 7-1 Did you see it? It was a ghost….
The Show Spot 10 Rowdyrodypiper 9-1 A real piledriver
Live Longshot: 12 Shadowbane 12-1 Could be a fast shadow