2023 Wood Memorial morning-line odds, picks: Racing expert offers bet strategy for Saturday's Kentucky Derby prep race

New York's road to the Kentucky Derby concludes on Saturday when 13 horses leave the starting gate in the 2023 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, N.Y. The Brad Cox-trained Hit Show is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Wood Memorial odds. The Todd Pletcher-trained Dreamlike is second in the odds at 7-2 in the Wood Memorial field. Slip Mahoney (6-1), Arctic Arrogance (6-1) and Classic Catch (10-1) round out the top five in the odds. Post time for the $750,000 race is 6:16 p.m. ET.

With a wide-open field set to leave the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to hear what Louisville, Ky.,-based racing expert Jody Demling has to say before making any 2023 Wood Memorial picks.

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has nailed the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last five years, as well as the exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also nailed Flightline's win at the Breeders' Cup Classic in November.

Demling is at his best in the biggest horse races in the country. In fact, he has hit 10 of the last 14 Oaks-Derby doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby all but four times in the last 14 years. He's also called nine of the last 18 Preakness winners and nailed the 2022 Preakness trifecta.

And last year he nailed the Mo Donegal-Early Voting exacta in the Wood Memorial.

Now, Demling has handicapped the 2023 Wood Memorial field, made his picks and constructed his bets.

One shocker: Demling is high on Arctic Arrogance, who is third in the odds at 6-1. "His sire, Frosted, won the Wood Memorial in 2015. Frosted's sire, Tapit, won the Wood in 2004. I think he has a big chance to add to his family's legacy," Demling told SportsLine. Demling is using Arctic Arrogance prominently in his wagers.

Moreover, Demling's top pick is a horse who could become one of the "major contenders" for the Kentucky Derby. Demling also is high on a double-digit longshot who "should not have a problem" with the Wood distance on Saturday. Demling is including these horses in his exactas, trifectas and superfectas, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY need to see who they are before locking in your picks for the 2023 Wood Memorial.

Who wins the 2023 Wood Memorial? And what double-digit longshot is a must-back? ... Join SportsLine now to get Jody Demling's 2023 Wood Memorial bets and see which longshot contends, all from the expert who nailed last year's Wood exacta!