Alpha and My Adonis, two leading contenders for the upcoming $1 million Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack, put in their final works for the race March 30.
The winner of the Withers Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 4, Alpha jetted to New York from Florida for the April 7 Wood after breezing a half-mile in :49 at Palm Meadows Training Center for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
At Aqueduct, Gotham Stakes (gr. II) runner-up My Adonis turned in a bullet half-mile drill in :47 for trainer Kelly Breen. His half-mile breeze was the quickest of 17 at the distance.
Godolphin Racing's Alpha, who has not raced since the Withers, boarded a Tex Sutton flight to Farmingdale, Long Island, following the drill.
“He breezed great, galloped out in 1:02 3/5,” McLaughlin said. “It was just what we were looking for, and he hopped right on the plane and should arrive mid-afternoon.”
Alpha, who also captured Aqueduct's Count Fleet Jan. 7, has won three of five lifetime starts. The son of Bernardini out of the Nijinsky II mare Munnaya has earnings of $300,000. Alpha has had six published workouts at Palm Meadows since his Withers win.
My Adonis vanned down from Belmont Park to work over the Aqueduct main track. The move was the second for My Adonis since his runner-up effort to Hansen in the March 3 Gotham at 1 1/16 miles. My Adonis began the year with a third in the one-mile Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 29.
With jockey Cornelio Velasquez aboard, George and Lori Hall’s Pleasantly Perfect colt zipped through his half-mile breeze.
“The horse worked great, and he came out of it great,” Breen said by telephone from Florida. “He’ll tell us his story in the Wood. If he jumps up and runs a big race, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Along with Alpha and My Adonis, others targeting the Wood include Casual Trick, most recently seventh in Gulfstream’s Fountain of Youth (gr. II); the undefeated Gemologist , seven-length allowance winner at Gulfstream March 16; Street Life, who has won his two most recent starts including the Broad Brush at Aqueduct March 17; The Lumber Guy , 2-for-2 including the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park Feb. 25; and Tiger Walk, third in the Withers and fourth in the Gotham in his two most recent starts.
Other possible starters, according to NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, are Brimstone Island, Cozzetti, Prospective , and Teeth of the Dog.
