Best bets for Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby and Blue Grass Stakes

The Road to the Kentucky Derby is back to its more traditional format. 46 prep races spread out over North America, Europe, Dubai and Japan will award points to top four finishers in each designated race. Three of those prep games arrive this weekend: the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Monica.

Essential Quality is undefeated and 11th in the standings. He has one of the fastest pace figures to the first call (the half-mile mark) of dirt races at Keeneland this year. Untreated broke his maiden in his last start at 1 mile and 40 meters. Todd Pletcher's Untreating is the only other horse worth a look.

Crowded Trade won the Gotham Stakes by a nose. Crowded trade covered 37.1 mph, a few ticks faster than Weyburn's speed (36.9 mph). Crowding Trade and WeYburn are the only horses in the field with a Brisnet final speed figure in excess of 100 on a fast dirt track. Brooklyn Strong earned his triple-digit speed in Grade 2 Remsen Stake at Aqueduct last year.

Medina Spirit is the morning line favorite at 9-5. Back Ring Luck was last put up for claim as a maiden in November. Ottothelegend, Law Professor and Defunded are stepping out of the maiden ranks for the first time. Rock Your World has never raced on the dirt. Parnelli has raced around two turns once and finished fifth by 19 lengths.