It’s a Breeders’ Cup prep weekend across the country, and NYRA’s Saturday card features races in the Turf Sprint, Sprint, Filly & Mare Sprint, Turf and Classic/Dirt Mile ranks. The Grade 2 $300,000 Woodward at 1-1/8 miles could fit hopefuls in the Classic or Dirt Mile divisions.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Woodward (Race 6):
#1-AWESOME AARON: Grade 3 Pimlico Special winner exits a fourth-place effort in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic for trainer Norm Casse. Ricardo Santana Jr. takes over the mount as he looks to continue his new-found NYRA success. Claimed for $40,000 nearly one year ago, this Practical Joke colt has bagged more than $300,000 since the barn change. First start over the Aqueduct oval since breaking his maiden locally in March of 2022.
#2-POST TIME: Maryland kingpin returns to the site of his 2024 Grade 2 Carter victory and Cigar Mile third-place finish. The Brittany Russell trainee has won 12 of 20 for $1.4 million and was runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He could be headed back to Del Mar with a solid effort Saturday as the 5-year-old partners with regular rider Sheldon Russell, husband of the trainer.
#3-WILLY D’S: Cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs, where he currently is based. The Mike Maker-trained gelding was claimed for $50,000 in March at Oaklawn and since won the listed Schaeffer Memorial at Horseshoe Indianapolis and finished second in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. Flavien Prat, who won this race 2 years ago aboard Zandon, is named to ride in what could be this son of Lookin At Lucky’s first trip over the Aqueduct dirt.
#4-FILM STAR Claimed for $100,000 at Saratoga in his most recent victory on August 22, trainer Rob Atras steps this one back up in class in a hurry. The 6-year-old has bagged more than $750,000 while winning a pair of listed stakes. Runner-up in the 2023 Woodward behind favored Zandon when part of the Linda Rice stable. Manny Franco, who won 4 races Sunday at the Big A (8 overall last week), takes over the mount.
#5-GOULD’S GOLD: Grade 2 Charles Town Classic and Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap third-place finisher aims for a second career stakes victory. The Kenny McPeek charge scored the 2024 listed Smarty Jones at Parx before going on the sidelines for more than 7 months. Goldencents 4-year-old has won 1 of 4 this year, a Churchill allowance, and will team with Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano for the first time. Aqueduct debut off a series of Saratoga training track bullet works.
#6-PHILEAS FOGG: Front-running winner of Saratoga’s Grade 2 Suburban has upped his game in 2025 after winning of 6 vs. lesser last year and being claimed for $62,500. Gustavo Rodriguez trainee gets the return call from speed-friendly rider Kendrick Carmouche after being disqualified from third in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga for interference early in that race. He comes off back-to-back career-high Beyer Speed Figures and is 4: 3-1-0 over the track.
#7-LOCKED (pictured): The Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap winner won the ’24 Grade 2 Cigar Mile over this track and is 2-for-2 locally. Todd Pletcher’s colt by Gun Runner has won 5 of 10 for $1.7 million and looks to bounce back off a disappointing third in the Grade 2 Suburban as the 4-5 favorite (beaten by Woodward return rival Phileas Fogg et al). The mount goes back to his former pilot, Hall of Famer John Velazquez, as Jose Ortiz is supplanted in the saddle and without a ride in the race. Pletcher’s 5 wins in the Woodward (including 2 of the last 3 years) are tied for most all-time with Bill Mott.
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