With an off track possible for Saturday's Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct, one horse that does have experience over a wet strip is Arthur Vickers' longshot Sky Soldier, who was made 15-1 on the morning line. Sky Soldier won his last start, the $60,000 Private Terms in the mud at Laurel March 29. "We've been doing a rain dance here," said trainer Todd Beattie from his Penn National base. "I don't know how much the mud moved him up at Laurel. I know it doesn't move him back and with so many horses in this race inexperienced over a wet track, that could help his chances." Sky Soldier will be put to the stiffest test of his career in the Wood with his perfect 3-for-3 record on the line. "I think he's got a very good chance to get a piece," Beattie said. "My only concern is that this race might be a little close to his last race, especially considering he was coming off a two-month layoff at Laurel." Beattie said Sky Soldier would depart Penn National for Aqueduct at 4 a.m. Saturday. Trainer Bobby Frankel agrees that his Empire Maker is the horse to beat, regardless of track condition, but he doesn't see much value there.
"I wouldn't bet him," Frankel said. "How are you going to take 3-5
on him? He's never been on a wet track and who knows what the track will be like tomorrow."