Eskendereya, the 8½-length winner of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, will bypass this Saturday’s Florida Derby and point to the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 3, according to owner Ahmed Zayat.

The change in plans will give the Todd Pletcher-trained colt a four-week break before the May 1 Kentucky Derby instead of a six-week layoff from this Saturday’s race.

The Wood could be the strongest race among Derby preps this year with possible starters such as Grade 3 Gotham winner Awesome Act, Grade 2 Rebel winner Lookin At Lucky, Jackson Bend, runner up to Eskendereya in the Florida Derby, and Odysseus, winner of the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, pointing toward New York.