Napoleon Solo Skips Arkansas Derby, Targets Wood Memorial at Aqueduct

Napoleon Solo will be scratched from Saturday's Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and instead pointed to the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 4 at Aqueduct, owner Al Gold confirmed after discussions with trainer Chad Summers. The gray or roan son of Liam's Map is heading back to the track where he delivered his most dominant performance.

"We talked it over as a group and he had won at Aqueduct, so we thought that was the best spot for him," Gold said. Gold also told Daily Racing Form's David Grening, who first reported the reroute, "we look forward to getting back to the track we had success at."

The Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles carries a $750,000 purse and Kentucky Derby points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale. Napoleon Solo currently has 15 qualifying points. The Arkansas Derby offers identical points to the winner, meaning the colt sacrifices no ceiling by making the switch.

The son of Liam's Map won the G1 Champagne Stakes by 6 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct in his second career start at age 2. That October victory, achieved during the Belmont at the Big A meet, remains the defining moment of his career and the foundation for Gold's confidence returning there.

His 3-year-old campaign, however, has not yet matched that promise. Napoleon Solo returned for his 3-year-old debut in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream on Feb. 28. Sent off the 3-1 third choice, he rushed up after a slow break and weakened in the lane to finish fifth, 11 3/4 lengths behind Commandment.

Napoleon Solo, who was also under consideration for the G3 Gotham at Aqueduct earlier in the spring, was supplemented to the Arkansas Derby for $20,000. Gold Square's son of Liam's Map was set at 6-1 in the Arkansas Derby morning line and would have faced seven other challengers at Oaklawn Park. He had drawn post 7 of nine before the scratch decision was made.

His defection leaves a field of eight expected for the Arkansas Derby. Tampa Bay Derby (G3) fourth-place finisher Redland Rebels is cross-entered between the Arkansas Derby and the Florida Derby (G1), but Mary Rampellini of Daily Racing Form reported Monday on X that trainer Patrick Biancone intends to run him at Oaklawn. Rampellini also reported Monday morning that Bricklin will start in the Arkansas Derby as well.

At Aqueduct, Napoleon Solo will find a competitive Wood Memorial field taking shape. Other horses being considered for the race include Bravaro, Buetane, Civil Liberty, Courting, Creole Chrome, Iron Honor, Ocelli, Ottinho, Red Zone Runner, Right to Party, Steel, Taj Mahal, and Talk to Me Jimmy. Apart from Napoleon Solo, the group includes only one other graded stakes winner: Iron Honor, who won the Gotham Stakes (G3) by a length for trainer Chad Brown. He last worked 4 furlongs in :49.97 over Belmont Park's training track.

With 15 Derby points already banked and 100 on offer to the Wood Memorial winner, Napoleon Solo needs a strong showing on April 4. Returning to the track where he obliterated a field by 6 1/2 lengths will tell connections whether that juvenile brilliance was a preview or a peak.