By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_Keelerman
The betting scene follows the Triple Crown for three-year-olds stopping by Thistledown this Saturday to win the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3), a race with a list of recent winners highlighted. by Triple Crown alumni Tawny Port (2022), Owendale (2019), Irap (2017), Mo Tom (2016) and Mr. Z (2015).
This year’s Ohio Derby drew an eight-horse field with only one horse competing in the Triple Crown. It’s a horse #4 Two Phil (8-5), who is supposed to start as the favorite to win this 1/8 mile contest.
Two Phil’s have been showing off talent since last year, when he won Street Sense S. (G3) and Shakopee Juvenile S. in a fruitful two-year campaign. But Hard Spun’s son has blossomed in his last two starts. After dominating Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on Tapeta at Turfway Park by 5 1/4 against three-time Division 2 champion Major Dude, Two Phil’s returned to dirt for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Run a giant race to finish second.
The “giant race” is said to underestimate how effective Two Phil’s can be. The Kentucky Derby was played with hot scores of :22.35, :45.73 and 1:10.11 that destroyed the original three leaders and made them finish in 16th, 14th and 13th places. Meanwhile, horses from 12th and up have rallied to overcome three of the top four and five of the top seven.
The only front runner to break the super was Two Phil’s. After half a mile, he is racing in fourth place, only half the distance behind the leader. He remained fourth after six stretches, then moved early to take a 1/2-length lead at the top of the stretch. He was eventually knocked out by the deep-pocketed Mage, but Two Phil’s finished just a distance from the win and ran bit by bit as well as the winner based on how the pace went.
Two Phil’s ties chose to ignore the rest of the Triple Crown and target the Ohio Derby, where Two Phil’s loomed as a formidable victory threat. He’s been training intensely since the Kentucky Derby and will be hard to beat when relegated, especially since there’s not a lot of pace on the court and the pace has to be more relaxed than the Kentucky Derby.
#7 Lord Miles (7-2) was another successful Ohio Derby entrant, winning the Wood Memorial (G2) by nose in a finishing three-horse shot. But Wood Memorial’s form isn’t particularly well maintained and Lord Miles previously finished the table in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Holy Bull S. (G3), suggesting he’s at least a bit vulnerable. in Ohio Horse Race.
A better choice for the runner-up title might be #3 Bishops Bay
(3-1), whose coach—Brad Cox—has won the Ohio Derby twice with Tawny Port and Owendale. In contrast to Lord Miles, the lines of Bishops Bay look excellent. In his first six-long sprint at Fair Grounds, he beat future winner Lexington S. (G3) First Mission by 3/4 of the distance. Then, after rising to win the $80,000 option claimant two-way at the Fair Grounds, Bishops Bay finished second with a 1 1/8-mile lead in Peter Pan S. (G3) at Belmont Park. The winner, Arcangelo, came right back to claim the Belmont S. (G1).
Bishops Bay showed speed in all three of his starts and managed to gain ground on the trip or pick up a modest pace in the Ohio Derby. From there, a place in the top 2 will be within reach.
#8 Hayes strike (6-1) is another runner-up worthy of respect in the minor prizes. Experienced intern Kenny McPeek has campaigned extensively in the equity ranks, beating the board in Iroquois S. (G3), Street Sense S. (G3), Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) and Gun Runner S. as children. More recently, Hayes Strike won the Private Terms S. and the Texas Derby with a seventh place in Blue Grass S. (G1).
Hayes Strike may not be Tier 1 caliber and he doesn’t have much tactical speed, but he regularly finds a spot in the super product and can do it again in the Ohio Derby.
Select
First: Two Phil
2nd place: Bishops . Bay
Part 3: Lord Miles
4th time: Hayes attacks
Now it’s your turn! Who do you like in the Ohio Derby?
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J. Keeler Johnson (also known as “Keelerman”) is a writer, cinematographer, voice actor, disabled athlete, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A huge fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager the greatest racehorse ever made in America, but considers Zenyatta his all-time favorite.
