GEMOLOGIST WINS THE WOOD

I’ll Have Another and Done Talking also winners

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Gemologist won the $1 million Wood Memorial for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct on Saturday, holding off Alpha by a neck to improve to 5 for 5.

The latest victory makes the colt trained by Todd Pletcher one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby on May 5. Gemologist will enjoy an important advantage over many rivals in the Derby, having already won twice at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Gemologist ran 11/8 miles in 1:50.96 and paid $4.40 to win. The $600,000 first prize in the Wood assures Gemologist a starting spot in the Derby where the 20 entrants are determined by graded stakes earnings.

“When I asked him, he took off again” Castellano said. “I like that. I was concerned when Alpha was closing because my horse was just looking around at the crowd.

The $200,000 for second also cinched a Derby spot for Alpha, winner of a pair of Aqueduct stakes over the winter.

“We had a true test and we passed,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, Alpha’s trainer. “We just didn’t win. We got beat, but we’re going on to May 5th.”

Pletcher is seeking his second Derby victory, having won in 2010 with Super Saver, also owned by WinStar Farm who purchased Gemologist for $310,000 at a yearling sale in 2009.

“So far, it would be hard to be unhappy with anything he’s done so far in his whole career,” Pletcher said. “It looked like he had something left after the wire. With this horse being 2 for 2 at Churchill Downs, I think he’s got as good chance as anybody.”

Teeth of the Dog finished third.

Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif.

I’ll Have Another edged 4-5 favorite Creative Cause by a nose in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

Sent off at 4-1 odds, I’ll Have Another ran 11/8 miles in 1:47.88 under Mario Gutierrez on Saturday in the West’s leading prep for the Kentucky Derby.

Blueskiesnrainbows was another half-length back in third for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who was trying to win his record seventh Santa Anita Derby. Paynter, one of his three entries, finished fourth.

I’ll Have Another paid $10.20, $4.20 and $3.60. Creative Cause returned $2.60 and $2.40, while Blueskiesnrainbows paid $9.60 to show.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, I’ll Have Another won the Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 4 after returning from a five-month layoff. He was then given two months off to prepare for Saturday’s race.

Illinois Derby

CICERO, Ill.

Long-shot Done Talking won the $500,000 Illinois Derby on Saturday, beating Morgan’s Guerrilla by three-quarters of a length at Hawthorne Race Course.

Ridden by Sheldon Russell, Done Talking ran 11/8 miles in 1:53.88 on the fast track from the No. 13 post position. The 55th running of the Illinois Derby featured a record 14-horse field.

Done Talking split between Morgan’s Guerrilla and Our Entourage just inside the one-eighth pole.

Done Talking paid $27.10 to win.

Trained by Hamilton A. Smith, Done Talking is owned by Skeedattle Stable.

Race favorite Currency Swap finished a distant 11th.