Mo Donegal wins Wood Memorial on last weekend of Derby prep races

NEW YORK — Mo Donegal rallied to win the $750,000 Wood Memorial on Saturday at Aqueduct on the last weekend of major prep races for the Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Mo Donegal ran 1-1/8 miles in 1:47.96. Trainer Todd Pletcher tied “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons for most Wood wins with seven.

Mo Donegal, who is partly owned by North Haven’s Ralph Durante and John Buckley, earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on May 7. He has three wins in four career starts and earnings of $621,800.

“Mo Donegal needed to win or place in the Wood Memorial to have points for the Derby,“Durante said. “We expected him to hit the board. He loves the Aqueduct track and ran down the leader Early Voting in what was a terrific effort.“

The 3-year-old bay colt paid $6.30, $3.10 and $2.70 at 2-1 odds.

Early Voting, who led most of the way, returned $4 and $3.80. Skippylongstocking paid $6.20 to show.

At Keeneland, Zandon rallied from the rear to overtake favorite Smile Happy in the stretch and win the $1 million Blue Grass by 21/2 lengths.

The Chad Brown-trained colt broke from the No. 4 post at 5-2 odds but fell off the pace to dead last nearing the far turn before charging through traffic into space at the top of the stretch. Zandon chased down Emmanuel before flying past Smile Happy for his second career win in four starts on a cold, overcast day.

Zandon’s Grade 1 victory earned 100 qualifying points toward the 148th Derby at

Churchill Downs on May 7.

Zandon covered the muddy-to-good 11/8 mile with Flavien Prat aboard in 1:50.35 and paid $6.20, $3.20 and $2.40.

Smile Happy, who entered as the 9-5 favorite, returned $3.20 and $2.40, while Emmanuel paid $3.60 to show.

TAIBA WINS SANTA ANITA DERBY

ARCADIA, Calif. — Taiba won the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby by 21/4 lengths on Saturday on the last weekend of major prep races for the Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Taiba overtook pacesetter Messier in the stretch and went on to win against the West Coast’s top contenders for the first Saturday in May. Both colts are trained by Tim Yakteen, who took over recently for Bob Baffert, the six-time Kentucky

Derby winner serving a 90-day suspension.

“Pretty exciting moment,” Yakteen said in the winner’s circle, his forehead sweaty under a hot sun. “Overwhelmed is an understatement.”

At Keeneland, Zandon rallied from the back of the field to overtake favorite Smile Happy in the stretch and win the $1 million Blue Grass by 21/2 lengths. He ran 11/8 miles in 1:50.35 on the muddy-to-good track and paid $6.20 to win.

At Aqueduct, Mo Donegal rallied to win the $750,000 Wood Memorial by a neck.

In California, Taiba won just the second start of his career and his first in a stakes race, running 11/8 miles in 1:48.67. Purchased for $1.7 million, he’s a son of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner. He paid $10.60, $3.60 and $3.20 at 4-1 odds.

Messier returned $2.80 and $2.10. Happy Jack was another 10 lengths back in third and paid $4.20 to show. Armagnac, the third colt in the field who came to Yakteen from Baffert’s barn, was fourth.

Forbidden Kingdom, the even-money favorite, was last in the field of six.

Taiba made his debut at Santa Anita on March 5, winning by 71/2 lengths for Baffert. Yakteen, once a longtime assistant for Baffert, took over a couple weeks later.

The major West Coast prep for the Kentucky Derby was expected to be a showdown between Messier and Forbidden Kingdom. But Taiba flashed his early speed and took on both rivals out of the starting gate.

“It’s hard to actually verbalize what he just accomplished,” Yakteen said. “You don’t see that at this level unless you’re just exceptionally, exceptionally gifted. Obviously, this horse has that type of talent.”

Taiba earned 100 qualifying points for the May 7 Kentucky Derby. He moved from last place on the leaderboard to eighth place, putting him solidly in the 20-horse field for the Derby. Messier moved from last place to 18th with 40 points, ending his shot to run in the Derby.

It wasn’t in the plans for Taiba to take on such top-tier talent as Messier and Forbidden Kingdom. But owner Amr Zedan overruled Yakteen.

“We told him the challenges that might take place by doing something like this, but he had all the confidence in the world in this horse and wanted to give the (Kentucky) Derby another go,” Yakteen said.