Verrazano tops 10-horse field in Wood Memorial

[April 06, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Verrazano has a chance to give trainer Todd Pletcher the favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

The unbeaten 3-year-old colt will be going for his fourth straight win when he takes on nine rivals in the $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday -- a final steppingstone to the Derby on May 4.

Verrazano is the overwhelming morning-line favorite at 4-5, with unbeaten Vyjack 4-1, Normandy Invasion 5-1 and the rest of the field ranging from 12-1 to 30-1.

This will be the fourth year in a row Pletcher will send out the Wood favorite. He won last year with Gemologist and in 2010 with Eskendereya and finished third with Uncle Mo in 2011.

Verrazano has been ranked among the top Derby contenders the past few weeks.

[Associated Press; By RICHARD ROSENBLATT]

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