This upcoming Saturday at Thistledown, we have an exciting Grade 3 Ohio Derby taking place. The race covers 1 1/8 miles on dirt, with a generous prize purse of $500,000. Restricted to three-year-old thoroughbreds, this year’s Ohio Derby boasts a field of eight talented entries. Allow me to share my top picks for this prestigious event, including a favorite, a strong contender, and a live longshot.
My Top Pick
Trained by the skilled Larry Rivelli and guided by jockey Jareth Loveberry, Two Phil’s stands out as the clear frontrunner in the Ohio Derby. With an impressive rating of 7.89 from Horse Racing Nation, this three-year-old colt enters the race as the 8/5 favorite and will be starting from gate No. 4. Two Phil’s has already showcased his capabilities by finishing second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 6, preceded by a victory in the Grade 3 Jeff Rudy Stakes at Turfway Park in late March. Bred from the exceptional lineage of Hard Spun, Two Phil’s views the Ohio Derby as a stepping stone towards the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Notably, he has consistently performed well in his last three graded stakes races, covering distances of 1 1/8 miles or longer, and securing first, second, or third place finishes each time.
The Strong Contender
Bishops Bay emerges as one of the most formidable contenders in the Ohio Derby, with morning line odds of 3-1. Sired by the renowned Uncle Mo, this three-year-old colt previously placed second behind Arcangelo in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes on May 13. Arcangelo subsequently triumphed in the illustrious Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, one of the Triple Crown events. Under the guidance of trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux, Bishops Bay will be starting from gate No. 3. Impressively, he has already secured victories in two races at Fair Grounds during the early spring. Bishops Bay was bred by WinStar Farm, LLC in Kentucky, further enhancing his credentials.
The Live Longshot
At enticing morning line odds of 20-1, Angello’s Dream presents an intriguing live longshot in the Ohio Derby. What sets this three-year-old apart is his advantage of familiarity with the Thistledown track, having participated in three races at this venue within the past two months. Despite not securing a win in those races, Angello’s Dream consistently performed admirably, placing second or third in all three Allowance events. While stepping up in both distance and class for this race, Angello’s Dream has demonstrated his knack for finishing in the money at Thistledown. As the son of Always Dreaming, he possesses a solid dirt pedigree and has competed predominantly in races covering one mile or less throughout his three-year-old campaign.
In summary, my expert picks for the $500,000 Ohio Derby are as follows: Two Phil’s as the top pick, Bishops Bay as the strong contender, and Angello’s Dream as the live longshot. With their impressive records and favorable attributes, these three colts possess the potential to excel in this esteemed stakes race.
