The gang’s all here when it comes to Aqueduct prospects on the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes path. The winners of the Grade 1 Champagne, Withers and Grade 3 Gotham all clash in a big field of 13 over 1-1/8 miles. The top-2 finishers likely punch their tickets to the first Saturday in May on qualifying points.

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Let’s meet the contenders for the Wood Memorial (Race 12):

#1-NAPOLEON SOLO: Grade 1 Champagne winner tired to fifth in Gulfstream’s Fountain of Youth Stakes in late February, his first start since October. Trainer Chad Summers and owner Gold Square LLC supplemented him to the Arkansas Derby last week, scratched and sought this spot in hoping to get back into the Kentucky Derby points discussion. Paco Lopez, who upset this race at 59-1 odds 3 years ago, rides the speedy son of Liam’s Map for the first time. Easy Goer in 1988-’89 was the last Champagne winner at add the Wood at age 3.

#2-TALK TO ME JIMMY: 11-length winner of the 1-1/8 miles Withers returns to the same track and distance for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. Modernist colt sprung 12-1 upset in the Withers and has won both starts since adding blinkers. Ruben Silvera has the return mount as Talk to Me Jimmy tries to become the first Withers winner to add the Wood Memorial since the former stakes was moved ahead on the calendar in 2012.

#3-RIGHT TO PARTY: Gotham Stakes third-place finisher stretches out around 2 turns for the first time. Maiden breaker Jan. 10 at the Big A has been bookended by losses to Iron Honor, who rematches again Saturday. $325,000 Constitution colt is trained by Kenny McPeek and will be ridden again by Christopher Elliott. Maternal grandson of Chimichurri, winner of the G3 Temped over this track in 2002. Right to Party is not Triple Crown-nominated.

#4-STEEL: Feb. 28 Gulfstream debut winner has been the morning workmate for last week’s Florida Derby third-place finisher Chief Wallabee. The Tapit colt could give Bill Mott a pair of chances in this year’s Kentucky Derby as he seeks to follow Sovereignty’s roses from a spring ago. Steel rallied from 10 lengths back to win by a nose at 18-1 odds in his only start. Half-brother to 2021 Kentucky Derby fourth-place finisher O Besos, who earned $760K. Mott won this race in 2024 with Resilience and 2019 with Tacitus.

#5-OCELLI: Maiden through 5 starts faded late in both the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and the Virginia Derby while making ill-timed middle moves. Trainer Whit Beckman takes the blinkers off as this $12,000 Connect colt remains ambitiously placed while making his first graded-stakes attempt. Company lines include successful sophomores Renegade, The Puma, Incredibolt and Reagan’s Honor. Aqueduct will be the fourth different track in the last 4 starts.

#6-MINORINCONVENIENCE: New York-bred won the Funny Cide to close the Saratoga meeting last summer and was runner-up upon his March 7 return in Aqueduct’s Gander. Mendelssohn colt was a $20K bargain having already earned $160K and now tries open company for the first time. Former jockey and Todd Pletcher assistant trainer Amelia Green looks for her first Triple Crown starter as head trainer.

#7-ALBUS: Entered and scratched from last Saturday’s Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park for this easier spot. Trainer Riley Mott already has Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt earmarked for Kentucky Derby 152 and looks to deepen his roster. Albus won his third-start maiden breaker at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 27 in his only start this year. The $320K Yaupon colt bids in stakes company for the first time.

#8-COURTING: $5 million blueblood full brother to star mare Clairiere didn’t live up to the pedigree when out of the money in the Remsen and Risen Star. Todd Pletcher had mixed results last week, winning the Arkansas Derby (Renegade, Courting’s Palm Beach Downs workmate on March 13) while running fourth in the Florida Derby (Nearly). The trainer has won this race 7 times and an eighth would tie the all-time record of Triple Crown legend Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons. Blinkers come off after a poor showing when trying them for the first time in the Risen Star.

#9-BRAVARO: Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. upset the 2023 Wood Memorial with 59-1 shot Lord Miles and seeks a sequel. Bravaro adds blinkers for the first time following a fourth-place finish in Gulfstream’s Fountain of Youth and a runner-up in the Holy Bull over the same track. The New York-bred began his career 2-for-2 at Aqueduct last year, including a win in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes. Edwin Gonzalez comes north to ride for the first time.

#10-RED ZONE RUNNER: Romping winner of the City of Brotherly Love Stakes at his Parx home-base, this Practical Joke colt hits the road for his second start of 2026. Road-tripped to Laurel to run third in the Heft Stakes in December when under the care of Eric McClellan. Hugo Padilla now trains and top Parx pilot Mychel Sanchez sticks in the saddle.

#11-OTTINHO: Half-brother to the great Gun Runner is the first of 2 Chad Brown trainees in the lineup, joining Iron Honor. This one exits a third-place Withers finish, 11-1/2 lengths behind rematched rival Talk to Me Jimmy. Quality Road colt has won 1 of 3, a Dec. 31 Big A maiden route over the Wood Memorial distance. In fact, this will be his third straight 9-furlong start and adds blinkers for the first time. Brown won this race in 2021 (Risk Taking) and 2022 (eventual Preakness winner Early Voting). Dylan Davis takes the mount the first time.

#12-BUETANE: California-based colt has been a road warrior this spring, third in the Southwest at Oaklawn, fourth in Colonial Downs’ Virginia Derby and now a last-call effort in New York to make the Kentucky Derby. His luggage also includes a sticker from Saratoga last year when second in the Hopeful. Bob Baffert trains the $1.15 million Tiz the Law colt, who has won 1 of 5, his Del Mar debut last August. Martin Garcia will ride for the first time.

#13-IRON HONOR: Unbeaten Gotham Stakes winner has won both career starts with press-and-pounce styles around 1 turn at Aqueduct. The $475K colt by 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist has plenty of stamina in the pedigree but draws a difficult post. Trainer Chad Brown’s second shot in the race (alongside Ottinho) to earn a third Wood Memorial victory to go along with 2021 and 2022. Regular rider Manny Franco will be aboard Saturday. The last Gotham-Wood sweep was I Want Revenge in 2009.