The closing weekend feature at Saratoga Race Course is the 62nd running of the prestigious Grade 1 Woodward. Our own Wicked Strong drew the rail as the third choice in his attempt to end the meet in style.
Favored in the field is G1 Whitney runner-up Liam’s Map, who heads a four-deep, speedy battalion from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher. The lightly raced four-year-old seeks his first career graded stakes victory after being nailed on the line last out. His stablemates, Coach Inge, Protonico, and Mylute, have won or placed in the G1 Preakness, G1 Clark, G2 Alysheba, and G2 Brooklyn, among other blacktype efforts.
Our own trainer, Jimmy Jerkens, also sends out second choice Effinex, winner of the G2 Suburban at Belmont in July. The multi-horse entries for Pletcher and Jerkens will be joined in the gate by Dallas Stewart’s Commanding Curve, runner-up in last year’s G1 Kentucky Derby, and Bay of Plenty, who took the Alydar Stakes last out for Kiaran McLaughlin.
Wicked Strong enters the race off of a sneaky good effort when fourth in August 8th’s Whitney. While he has experienced some bad luck in 2015, including being virtually eliminated at the start of the G1 Met Mile, Wicked continues to train forwardly at Saratoga. He enters the Woodward off back-to-back bullet works, including a 36.83 blowout over the Oklahoma track on Wednesday morning. He will be joined once again by Luis Saez, who currently trails only Irad Ortiz, Jr., multiple Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano, and Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the standings.
The $600,000 Woodward Stakes is carded as the tenth race on a twelve race card at Saratoga on Saturday, September 5. Tune in to NBC Sports Network beginning at 5pm to cheer on Wicked Strong! Post time is at 5:47 Eastern.
