Godolphin's Kentucky Derby chances gathered momentum when the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Frosted redeemed his reputation with a convincing two lengths victory in the G1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Starting second favourite and wearing blinkers Frosted overcame a wide run around both turns to record an impressive victory in New York’s major prep for Churchill Downs.

A grey Darley homebred by Tapit, Frosted left McLaughlin nonplussed at his previous start when he failed in the Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream Park in Florida and resulted in the addition of blinkers and a change of rider to Joel Rosario.

"We know he has a ton of ability and the last race really made us scratch our heads, asking 'why?'" said trainer McLaughlin.

"Why would he go to the lead and throw his head up and stop? We did everything we could to change everything we possibly could that we thought went wrong.

“I feel bad about the rider change, but we had to change everything.

"It worked out. It all came together as he won quite well.

"Frosted answered the big question about the distance and I think a mile and quarter in the Kentucky Derby will be fine.

Frosted's schedule for the next four weeks leading up to the Derby on May 2 is undecided. McLaughlin could leave him in New York, return him to the warmer Florida to complete his preparation or send him to Keenealnd in Kentucky.

Frosted is now 2-4-0 from seven starts with earnings of $836,800.

Wood runner-up Tencendur also has enough qualifying points to put him in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses while third-place finisher El Kabeir had already earned enough points to qualify before the Wood.

The disappointment was the Bob Baffert-trained Daredevil, who dented his Derby hopes finishing out of the money.