Wicked Strong Leads Compact Field in Grade 3 Excelsior

Wicked Strong leads the scratch-shortened field of six after a fourth-place effort in his four year-old debut March 7 at Gulfstream in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap. The James Jerkens trainee was a memorable face amongst the three year-old crop of 2014, winning the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes, while placing fourth in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and earning a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. The son of Hard Spun has won 3 of 12 career starts for earnings of over $1.4 million. Jockey Rajiv Maragh will be aboard the heavy favorite breaking from post seven.

Micromanage always right there 

Micromanage (6/1) is a former grade 3 winner for trainer Todd Pletcher, and has routinely given a good account of himself while racing exclusively in stakes company since June 2013. The five year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro has won 7 of 26 career starts to go with four second place finishes and five thirds for earnings of $771,881. Javier Castellano has the mount breaking from the rail post.

Red Rifle capable on best stuff 

Pletcher will saddle another classy veteran in Red Rifle (10/1) who most recently finished fifth in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds March 28. That effort came after finishing third in the Grade 3 Mineshaft February 28. Red Rife capped his 2014 season with a win in the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup.