Bourbonic Bombs Wood Memorial

OZONE PARK, NY – Calumet Farm homebred Bourbonic completely bombed the tote at 72/1 with a thrilling late charge to win Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at Aqueduct.

Bourbonic broke from post 3 under Kendrick Carmouche as the longest shot in the field of nine 3-year-olds and trailed heading into the clubhouse turn while Market Maven posted opening fractions of :24.88, :50.18, and 1:14.98.

Dynamic One took a narrow lead over Weyburn halfway home and looked like he might spring a small upset at 15/1, but his Todd Pletcher stablemate was gaining ground steadily in the stretch as his rivals slowed.

Bourbonic put his head in front two jumps prior to crossing the wire in 1:54.49 for the 1 1/8-mile fast dirt route.

“Todd asked me what I was going to do and I told him I wouldn’t move,” Carmouche said. “I was just going to sit, sit, sit, sit, and hopefully get out the last 1/4 of a mile. I knew he would go on from there. My horse was in a good stride. Each pole, I was picking them up one by one without even asking.”

Dynamic One was 1 1/4 lengths clear of Crowded Trade the 5/2 second choice who rallied from off the pace along with the top pair.

Weyburn, Brooklyn Strong, Prevalence, the 2/1 favorite Risk Taking, Market Maven, and Candy Man Rocket completed the order of finish.

The Wood Memorial is part of the Road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby prep race season. Bourbonic earned 100 points for the win, with Dynamic One receiving 40 for second, Crowded Trade 20 for third, and Weyburn 10 for fourth.

Bourbonic’s win came in his stakes debut and improved his overall record to 6-3-1-0 with $465,880 earned. The Bernardini colt broke his maiden last December while risked for a $50,000 tag after finishing 11th on turf against maiden special weight company in his prior start.

“We always felt this horse would handle added distance,” Pletcher said. “He was able to get a perfect trip and sit back and make one late run. He was able to get there just in time. It was a big effort.”

Bourbonic returned $146.50 to win, $40.40 to place, and $11.40 to show. Dynamic One brought back $15.40 to place and $9.20 to show, with the Pletcher barn exacta $453 for $1. Crowded Trade paid $3.80 to show.