West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and CJ Stables' Statesman has won his last two races and steps up in class for the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The Wood Memorial, which offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points to the top five finishers, is slated as race 12 on Saturday's 13-race card.
Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, Statesman enters from a pair of victories at one mile and 40 yards at Tampa Bay Downs, getting his first win in his fourth start Jan. 17 and defeating allowance optional claiming company last out Feb. 26. The son of Constitution traveled in fifth position early under Samuel Marin and closed to win both efforts.
"I thought the Wood would be a good place for him. I thought Aqueduct's main track with the long stretch would help him because he is a finisher," McGaughey said. "He's been training really good since he ran last time and I know it is a big reach, but we are ready to see what happens."
McGaughey believes Statesman can take a step forward off his last race, where he was bumped at the start but recovered nicely to get in position for his surge to a 1 1/4-length score.
"He got schooled pretty good in his last race and then he was able to finish up to win easy," McGaughey said. "I think he is pretty experienced to that effect, and I think his jockey will sit and wait on him and he'll finish."
Tampa Bay Downs' leading rider Marin is slated to ride from post 11 in the field of 12, tabbed at odds of 15-1 on David Aragona's morning line.
"He rode him two times. That kid is not far from being a New York rider. He is a really good rider. He is way in front there, and I've been really, really impressed with some of the rides he's given us this winter. I think that maybe another summer at Monmouth Park and he'd be ready to come to New York," said McGaughey.
Statesman was third in his off-the-turf one-mile debut in early August at Saratoga Race Course before an off-the-board finish traveling two turns on turf later that month there. He was fourth in November at Gulfstream Park before his Tampa triumphs.
Statesman has not raced over an off track, but McGaughey didn't express much concern over the rain in the forecast.
"I've got no idea how he would handle an off track, but I think he probably should. I think that would probably dictate maybe if there are more horses with speed going in the race. It might help him somewhat," McGaughey said. "Like I said, he got schooled pretty good in his last race and I don't know if the rain would bother him or not, but I don't think it would."
McGaughey also had Edward Hudson Jr., and Lynne Hudson's Pure Beauty entered in the $200,000 Gazelle Stakes (G3) Saturday. The Gazelle awards 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
The Malibu Moon filly was third last out in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer March 6 at Gulfstream Park following a second-out graduation going one mile Jan. 12 there.
"She's doing good. Her last two races were really good," McGaughey said. "She was third beaten four lengths in a very deep race here a month ago, and I think this is worth taking a shot. She is going to get the distance, and we'll just see. I think that she fits."
McGaughey said Pure Beauty's last-out third was encouraging—the race's winner, Anna's Promise, exited to run second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) last weekend to Five G, who is third on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 125 points.
Marin will be aboard for the first time from post 7.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
