2014 Wood Memorial Stakes winner
Wicked Strong carried a wonderful name with a wonderful story behind it during the spring of 2014. He was foaled in 2011, a son of the stallion Hard Spun out of the mare Moyne Abbey. He raced for Centennial Farms, the Massachusetts based partnership group of Don Little Jr. and his small share owners, and he was trained by Jimmy Jerkens, the son of Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens. Originally named Moyne Spun, the colt's name was changed to Wicked Strong in honor of the victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, with Centennial Farms donating a share of his earnings to the One Fund Boston.
Wicked Strong lit up the racing world in the spring of 2014 with a powerful win in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct. He came rolling around the far turn under jockey Rajiv Maragh and drew off down the stretch, sealing his place as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. The story of his name turned him into a Boston area favorite, and fans across New England rallied behind the colt as he headed to Churchill Downs.
The 2014 Kentucky Derby did not quite go his way, but he ran a brave race. Wicked Strong rallied through the lane to finish fourth behind eventual Triple Crown contender California Chrome. He skipped the Preakness Stakes but came back to capture the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga that summer, beating top three year olds and showing that his Wood Memorial form had been no fluke. The win at the Spa was a wonderful moment for Centennial Farms and the New England racing community that had embraced him.
Wicked Strong retired at the end of his racing career and went on to a stallion career, where his Grade 1 winning credentials and emotional name story made him a popular pick for breeders. Wicked Strong is remembered for his Wood Memorial win and for the heartfelt story behind his name, a colt who carried more than his connections on his back through one of the most memorable Triple Crown trails in recent memory. Centennial Farms never had a horse mean more to its racing partners than Wicked Strong.
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