If Mike Repole had his druthers, the St. John's University alum would be in San Antonio this weekend for the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four.
But awful shooting March 22 ended those hopes in the Red Storm's 75-66 second-round loss to the University of Arkansas.
"It was still a phenomenal year," said Repole, who has been called the "co-owner" of the program by university officials after contributing more than $5 million to the school's Name, Image, and Likeness fund the last few years. "We won a lot of grade 1s this season. Our first outright Big East regular title in 40 years and first Big East tournament title in 25 years. It was like we won the Triple Crown but got beat in the Breeders' Cup."
And so, this weekend Repole's focus will be on the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack in his beloved hometown of Queens, N.Y., where some insight as to the ceiling for his speedy undefeated colt Grande will be learned.
"We'll find out if he's a favorite for the Kentucky Derby or if he needs lesser spots," Repole said about the son of Curlin trained by Todd Pletcher.
Though Grande has only raced in an allowance optional claimer and maiden race at Gulfstream Park, the Wood could provide his golden ticket to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May as it offers 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points to the top five finishers in the Wood.
Based on past years' totals, a top-two finish in the Wood should catapult Grande in one of the 17 available spots for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) (two of the 20 slots are offered to the winners of the Japan and Euro/Mideast Roads to the Kentucky Derby).
"Other than Bright Future, I've never had a Curlin with this much tactical speed. He won from the rail in a one-turn mile at Gulfstream and we know how tough that is. Then he stretches out and wins at a mile and an eighth with ease (2 1/2 lengths) and he gallops out great," Repole said.
Bred by KatieRich Farms out of the War Front mare Journey Home, Grande was a $300,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and the colt's breeding inspires a hope in his connection that the colt has a solid upside.
"What I like about him is that he's a Curlin and they get better with each start," Repole said. "So he's 2-for-2 and there's a lot to get excited about."
While he's trained by Pletcher, a seven-time winner of the Wood (twice with Repole horses), Grande is far from the typical fast-working starter for the Hall of Fame trainer. That could be seen in his 9-1 odds in his debut.
"He's different than the other good horses Todd has been blessed to train in that he doesn't tell you he's the best horse in the morning. He doesn't try to separate himself from the other horses. He stays with his company. He's probably won more races in the afternoon than the morning," Repole said.
To win a third straight race, Grande will face a tough challenge in a field of 12 traveling 1 1/8 miles in New York's definitive Kentucky Derby prep.
Included is Rodriguez, who was sent cross-country by Hall of Fame and two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert after finishing a distant third behind top Santa Anita Derby (G1) candidates Journalism and Barnes in the San Felipe Stakes (G2).
The son of the Baffert-trained 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic , bred by Kingswood Farm and David Egan, was second to his owners' 2-year-old champion male Citizen Bull in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park prior to that. He's owned by "The Avengers" group headed by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, which raced Authentic.
"His last race was disastrous. He's a little immature. He's like his sire who took a while to come around," Baffert said. "The talent is there, but he wasn't mentally prepared. He was too anxious in the paddock and all the way around. So we've been working with him, trying to figure out his style of running. It's like Point Given. We figured out a race too late what he wants to do."
Rodriguez has 21.25 qualifying points and would clinch a spot in the Run for the Roses with a top-two finish and land on the bubble with a third.
St. Elias Stable's Captain Cook is in a similar position. The son of Practical Joke , bred by Marylou Whitney Stables, has not raced since taking the Feb. 1 mile-and-an-eighth Withers Stakes at the Big A for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and has 20 points.
"He's doing good, very good. Two days after he ran, he seemed like he came out of it good. It was noticeable, and he's been following it up every day with good training, good breezing, and good living," Dutrow said. "He put in a big run going one mile and an eighth, which was tough, and he nailed it. We set him up for another two-turn race and it happened to be this race in two months, which is beautiful because I love time."
Dutrow will also send out McAfee, a half brother to reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, who was fifth in the Gotham Stakes (G3).
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, April 5, 2025, Race 12Entries: Wood Memorial S. Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Rodriguez (KY) Mike E. Smith 123 Bob Baffert 5/2 2 2Captain Cook (KY) Manuel Franco 123 Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. 7/2 3 3Tiger Twenty Four (KY) Javier Castellano 123 William I. Mott 30/1 4 4My Mitole (KY) Luis R. Rivera, Jr. 123 Carlos F. Martin 20/1 5 5Sand Devil (NY) Jose Lezcano 123 Linda Rice 8/1 6 6Hill Road (KY) Joel Rosario 123 Chad C. Brown 9/2 7 7Grande (KY) Dylan Davis 123 Todd A. Pletcher 5/1 8 8Passion Rules (MD) Kendrick Carmouche 123 Brad H. Cox 12/1 9 9Bear Claw Necklace (KY) Romero Ramsay Maragh 123 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 50/1 10 10McAfee (KY) Eric Cancel 123 Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. 20/1 11 11Statesman (KY) Samuel Marin 123 Claude R. McGaughey III 15/1 12 12Omaha Omaha (VA) Raul E. Mena 123 Michael E. Gorham 30/1
