Trainer Steve Asmussen can improve on his already strong hand for the Kentucky Derby when he sends out the favored Morello in the 2022 Wood Memorial on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack. Asmussen already has the current favorite for the Derby, Epicenter, who won the Louisiana Derby two weeks ago. With an impressive victory in the Wood Memorial 2022, Morello can join Epicenter as a contender for the Run for the Roses on May 7. Morello is the 8-5 favorite in the 2022 Wood Memorial odds. Two horses – the Todd Pletcher-trained Mo Donegal and the Chad Brown-trained Early Voting – are 5-2 in the eight-horse 2022 Wood Memorial field.
Post time is 4:45 p.m. ET. With very little separating the top three choices on Saturday, you’ll want to see what Louisville, Ky.,-based racing guru Jody Demling has to say before making any 2022 Wood Memorial picks.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the Wood Memorial after hitting the exacta in the Gotham Stakes last month. Last year he hit the exacta, trifecta and superfecta in the Belmont Stakes. And two years ago, he had a hot five-race stretch in which he correctly selected the winner of the Saudi Cup, Gotham Stakes, Rebel Stakes, Louisiana Derby and Florida Derby.
Now, Demling has handicapped the 2022 Wood Memorial field, made his picks and constructed his bets. You can only see them here.
Top 2022 Wood Memorial predictions
One shocker: Demling is high Barese, even though he’s an 8-1 long shot. Trained by Mike Maker, Barese is undefeated in three career starts. He is coming off a victory in the Gander Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 12.
In that race, Barese trailed by four lengths with only a furlong remaining, but rallied furiously to win by 1 1/4 lengths. “He looks to have some talent and, if he can get the distance, will be right there,” Demling told SportsLine. Demling will include Barese prominently in his 2022 Wood Memorial betting strategy.
How to make 2022 Wood Memorial picks
Demling’s top pick is a horse who could be “one of the top picks for the Derby.” Demling also is high on a double-digit long shot who could surprise with “a good jump turning for home.” Demling is including these horses in his exactas, trifectas and superfectas, and so should you. He’s only sharing which horses to back in the Wood Memorial at SportsLine.
So who wins the Wood Memorial 2022? And what double-digit long shot could surprise? Check out the latest Wood Memorial odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Wood Memorial, and find out.
