Wood Island goes wire to wire confidently in the Skidmore, NYRA Photo
Mary Eddy
Smart Choice Stable’s Wood Island sailed from wire-to-wire to remain perfect through two starts and land his first stakes win in Thursday’s $200,000 Skidmore, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by George Weaver, the son of Jackie’s Warrior mirrored his debut graduation on dirt with a successful turf bow in the Skidmore, again showing pacesetting tactics after taking an off-the-turf maiden going this distance on July 31 here. The speedy colt also became the first North American stakes-winner for his sire, who memorably won five graded sprints at Saratoga from 2020-22.
Weaver, who earned his first win in this event, has seen great success with turf sprinters, including last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint-winner Cy Fair, Group 2 Queen Mary-winner Crimson Advocate and graded stakes-winner Governor Sam, and said Wood Island oozes talent over the lawn.
“I promise you I’m not making them turf sprinters, but if they happen to be one, I’ve been lucky with them,” the trainer quipped. “When he ran first time out, originally I thought I’m not running – this horse is so much better on the grass, I don’t want to run him. I only did it because I knew he was quick, and the race looked a little weak on paper, so I took a shot. He showed what he is on the weeds today – he’s very good.”
Wood Island capitalized on a flying start from the outermost post 8 under Flavien Prat, and skipped clear to lead through an opening quarter-mile in 22.12 seconds over the firm footing with the filly Legacy Lady and Titan Ready battling for second position 1 1/2 lengths behind.
Weaver said a sharp break came naturally to Wood Island in both of his starts.
“He did it first time out, but there was other speed on board in here…I told him [Prat], ‘I don’t think he’s a need-the-lead type. I know he’s got good gate speed but there’s others in here that have speed, so you’ll have to see how things go,’” Weaver said. “Flavien said, ‘I’m just going to ask him a little bit to make sure I clear some horses.’ And he said, ‘wow.’ He was 2-or-3 [lengths] in front that easy – nice, get a little head start.”
Legacy Lady made a wide move for the front in the middle of the turn with the favored River of Deceit going even wider and Titan Ready opting for the inside route under Manny Franco, but Prat remained motionless as Wood Island maintained his lead heading into the stretch. He shook him loose once straightened for home through the half-mile in 45.15 and Wood Island responded with gusto, drawing clear from the belated Titan Ready to win by 2 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:02.36.
Titan Ready was a clear second by 2 1/2 lengths over 9-5 favorite River of Deceit, who got his head down over Legacy Lady for third. Johnny Hockey, So Angelina, American Pope and Bettabe Tough completed the order of finish. Also-eligible Arsenal Star was scratched.
Prat, aboard for the first time in the afternoon, said Wood Island was professional to cruise smoothly on the lead and wait for his cue.
“He was going at it a little bit going into the turn, but then we get to the turn, and he switched off nicely and took a nice breather and then he responded well when I asked him to go,” Prat said. “He gave me another gear. He was very professional, I was very impressed by his natural speed.”
Weaver has a handful of upcoming options for Wood Island, including the six-furlong Grade 3, $200,000 Futurity on October 3 at Belmont Park, which offers a ‘Win and You’re In’ berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in October at Keeneland. Woodbine Racetrack offers the Grade 3, $250,000 Algonquin, a five-furlong inner turf sprint on October 3, which Weaver successfully used as a springboard to the Breeders’ Cup last year with Cy Fair.
“We’re going to try to go there again,” Weaver said of the Breeders’ Cup. “That’s the plan. Maybe the Futurity. I might go back to Woodbine.”
The maiden Titan Ready made his first start for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox off a pair of runner-up efforts in Canada for trainer Sid Attard, and Franco said the colt may have performed better had he emerged sharper from post 6.
“We had to go to ‘Plan B.’ I thought we’d be near the lead, but he was anxious in the gate and didn’t break as good as we thought,” Franco said. “But after that, we got a good trip and he was second best. He was a little intimidated when he was inside [rivals], he had never been in that spot before. I thought he handled it well.”
Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Wood Island was a $250,000 purchase at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale and is out of the Artie Schiller mare Chilly Fashion, making him a half-brother to dual stakes-placed Arm Candy. He banked $110,000 in victory while returning $6.74 on a $2 win ticket.
Live racing resumes Friday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, featuring the $200,000 West Point presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Race 7 and the Grade 3, $225,000 Waya in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
Saratoga Live presents daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
