Gemologist made 8-5 Wood Memorial favorite

Gemologist made 8-5 Wood Memorial favorite

Darron Cummings/AP

Trainer Todd Pletcher (l.) congratulates John Velazquez after Velazquez rides Animal Kingdom to victory in 2011 Kentucky Derby.

Todd Pletcher could be down to playing his last ace if he wants to win his second Kentucky Derby.

The 44-year-old trainer started the year with four top Derby contenders in Algorithms, Discreet Dancer, El Padrino and Gemologist, but could now be down to one.

Algorithms suffered an injury. Discreet Dancer was pulled out of training after finishing third in the Feb. 26 Fountain of Youth Stakes.

Pletcher is hoping El Padrino can start in the May 5 "Run for the Roses" but the 3-year-old colt may not have enough graded earnings to make the field of 20 on the first Saturday in May, after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the March 31 Florida Derby.

That leaves Pletcher with Gemologist, who was made the 8-5 favorite for Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

The winner's share of the $ 1 million Wood Memorial is $ 600,000, which would easily be enough to earn a spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs. Second-place is worth $ 200,000, plus the $ 103,855 Gemologist has already accrued would also guarantee the 3-year-old a spot in the gate, but anything worse could leave Pletcher on the sidelines watching the Derby.

Despite that news, Pletcher says there's no pressure.

"For me, no. For him (Gemologist), yes," he said from his barn at Belmont Park Wednesday morning. "Graded earnings are critical."

Gemologist may not be in this critical spot had he ran in the March 17 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, instead of the allowance race he won on March 16 at Gulfstream Park that didn't offer any graded earnings.

"When we looked at the option of running in the Gulfstream allowance race versus shipping for the Rebel, we decided it was a risk we were willing to take," said Pletcher, who saddled Eskendereya to victory in the 2010 Wood. "Basically, he's got to finish first or second. If he finishes second, he'll comfortably get in. If he finishes third, then he's going to be on the bubble."

So far in his career, Gemologist has won all four of his starts, including two victories at Churchill Downs, taking last year's Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

"He's a very good horse ," the trainer said. "He's been exactly what we'd hope for. His first start back was good. He's got two wins at Churchill, which I think is very important."

Gemologist drew post six in the eight-horse Wood, which will be carried live by NBC-TV, beginning at 4:30 p.m. along with coverage of the Santa Anita Derby.