Bay Shore
Aqueduct, ninth race. Grade 3. Purse: $250,000. 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds. Post: 5:14 p.m.
LOWDOWN: After winning his two previous starts as much the best, Clawback returned from a six-week layoff as the 3-5 favorite in the Fred “Cappy” Capossela, flashed his usual early speed, but lacked the stretch punch of his previous races and tired to finish third. Clawback drew the rail stretching out to seven furlongs here for the first time, both negatives, but if he makes a forward move in his second start back off the layoff, he can recapture his old form at a decent price.
TV: HRTV, TVG, NYRA Channel 1994
WOOD MEMORIAL
Aqueduct, 12th race. Grade 1. Purse: $1,000,000. 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds. Post: 6:28 p.m.
LOWDOWN:
Verrazano looked like the second coming of Hindoo in his first two starts, passed tests for class and distance with a solid if not flashy victory in the Tampa Bay Derby, and can nail down the favorite’s role for the Kentucky Derby with a victory here against by far the toughest field he’s faced yet.
TV: NBC Sports Group, HRTV, TVG, NYRA Channel 1994
SANTA ANITA DERBY
Santa Anita, ninth race. Grade 1. Purse: $750,000. 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds. Post: 7 p.m.
LOWDOWN:
Flashback switches to Garrett Gomez after getting a fuzzy-headed ride in the San Felipe from Julien Leparoux that recalled his disastrous trip aboard Union Rags in last year’s Kentucky Derby. But even after Flashback got burned in a speed duel with Goldencents in the San Felipe, he still made the lead in deep stretch and held gamely for second, beaten just a half-length. He figures to improve off that try.
TV: NBC Sports Group, HRTV, NYRA Channel 1994.
LAST WEEK:
Hunter’s Light was seventh in the Dubai World Cup; Pick of the Litter (12-1) was sixth in the Florida Derby; Palace Malice (7-2) was a tough-trip seventh in the Louisiana Derby.