Study Guide: Ohio Derby

Jun 26, 2020 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

An overflow field of 15 was entered at Thistledown for Saturday’s lucrative $500,000 Ohio Derby Presented by TwinSpires.com (G3). The “2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby” event will offer points on a 20-8-4-2 basis to the top four finishers.
Here is the field for the 1 1/8-mile affair:

5 starts 1 Win 4 Place 3 Show	Total Career Earnings: $91,380 Top Speed rating: (95) in maiden victory at Churchill Downs
Owner: Raise the Bar Racing, LLC Breeder: Brereton Jones and Bret Jones Trainer: Tom Amoss Jockey: Ricardo Mejias	Sire: Cairo Prince Dam: Soundwave Color: Dark bay

Amoss claim finished a solid second in a recent allowance outing at Churchill Downs, and he makes his stakes debut in this spot. Cairo Prince gelding draws a great post along the rail in the bulky field and has useful early foot to secure a nice position early on. Ricardo Mejias will be in the silks.

5 Starts 0 Wins 1 Place 0 Show	Total Career Earnings: $17,361 Top Speed rating (87) in maiden second at Gulfstream Park
Owner: Calumet Farm Breeder: G Watts Humphrey and W S Farish Trainer: Dale Romans Jockey: John McKee	Sire: Honor Code Dam: Sweet Success Color: Dark bay

Kentucky-bred maiden is on the also-eligible list for his stakes bow. Dale Romans charge has run one good race from five lifetime performances, and he would need a lifetime-best to make any noise in the Ohio Derby. He should draw into the field with the scratch of Celtic Striker.

9 Starts 5 Wins 1 Place 0 Show	Total Career Earnings: $313,418 Top Speed rating (97) in 2019 Ellis Park Juvenile S. score
Owner: L and N Racing Breeder: Tracy Rene Strachan Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Tyler Baze	Sire: Morning Line Dam: Spring Station Color: Dark bay

Rowdy Yates wins at Sunland Park (Coady Photography)

Four-time stakes hero from the Asmussen barn makes his first outing following a fourth-place result in the Saudi Derby. Oklahoma-bred son of Morning Line has trained in great fashion leading up to the race, and the colt will be tough to ignore if he proves capable at 9 furlongs.

8 Starts 4 Wins 1 Place 2 Show	Total Career Earnings: $214,525 Top Speed rating (93) in 2019 allowance triumph at Delaware Park
Owner: Euro Stable Breeder: Calumet Farm Trainer: Claudio Gonzalez Jockey: Alex Cintron	Sire: Raison d’Etat Dam: Lender’s Way Color: Dark bay

Dark bay colt has been sharp from a pair of 2020 outings, capturing both the Miracle Wood S. and Private Terms S. Kentucky-bred son of Raison d’Etat has never been better, and he might be sitting on a big race with three consecutive morning drills as of late. Alex Cintron retains the mount.

8 Starts 2 Wins 0 Place 2 Show	Total Career Earnings: $59,120 Top Speed rating (92) in starter allowance tally at Oaklawn Park
Owner: Calumet Farm Breeder: Calumet Farm Trainer: Jack Sisterson Jockey: Julie Burke	Sire: Tonalist Dam: Tennessee Whiskey Color: Bay

Calumet homebred brings pace to the field as an interesting contender at a price. Jack Sisterson pupil exits a third-place result on the Churchill Downs sod most recently, and he could get brave if he clears this bunch in the early stages. Julie Burke will be in the irons.

8 Starts 2 Wins 0 Place 2 Show	Total Career Earnings: $113,654 Top Speed rating (94) in allowance win at Churchill Downs
Owner: Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider Breeder: Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider Trainer: Bill Mott Jockey: Paco Lopez	Sire: City Zip Dam: Amen Again Color: Chestnut

Sprawl wins at Churchill Downs (Coady Photography)

Bill Mott trainee has improved his Brisnet Speed number in three straight races since adding blinkers. The son of City Zip looked the part in a fine allowance tally at Churchill Downs most recently, and he rates a chance if he moves forward on Saturday. Paco Lopez has the assignment.

11 Starts 1 Win 2 Place 0 Show	Total Career Earnings: $91,860 Top Speed rating (97) when second in Lewis S. at Laurel Park
Owner: Trin-Brook Stables Breeder: Rose Hill Farm and John Trumbulovic Trainer: Uriah St. Lewis Jockey: John Bisono	Sire: Bodemeister Dam: Lucky Black Color: Dark Bay

Outsider was game in breaking his maiden at Aqueduct in his seasonal debut, but he has failed to come close to hitting the board in a trio of races since. Bodemeister colt would be a big surprise under the guidance of John Bisono.

5 Starts 0 Wins 3 Place 0 Show	Total Career Earnings: $35,060 Top Speed rating (90) in a maiden race at Churchill Downs last time out
Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables Breeder: John Penn and Frank Penn Trainer: Dale Romans Jockey: Gerardo Corrales	Sire: Will Take Charge Dam: Unbridled Empire Color: Bay

Longshot contender from the barn of Dale Romans has shown big improvement in his last trio of showings in preparation for his stakes debut. Maiden has been runner-up in his last three, and he also brings a lot of early foot to the race. $525,000 son of Will Take Charge could be in the hunt late at a square price.

10 Starts 3 Wins 1 Place 2 Show	Total Career Earnings: $86,917 Top Speed rating (86) in recent allowance victory at Lone Star Park
Owner: Calumet Farm Breeder: Edward Bradley et al Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Ricardo Feliciano	Sire: Honor Code Dam: Nereid Color: Bay

Code Runner Gallop at Oaklawn Park (Coady Photography)

Steve Asmussen charge has won two of his last three leading up to his second graded stakes attempt. Kentucky-bred son of Honor Code was trounced in both of his stakes assignments to date, but he could challenge for a placing in this field with a career best from off the pace.

10 Starts 3 Wins 1 Place 2 Show	Total Career Earnings: $225,114 Top Speed rating (94) when winning Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs
Owner: Sagamore Farm Breeder: Highclere, Inc. Trainer: Stanley Hough Jockey: Rafael Bejarano	Sire: Algorithms Dam: Sandra’s Rose Color: Bay

Consistently solid colt goes from turf-to-dirt, and also removes the blinkers for this performance. Bay colt has some class to him with eight straight stakes tries under his belt, and he might possess the best turn of foot in the field on his best day. Kentucky-bred is training well and will have the services of Rafael Bejarano.

4 Starts 1 Win 1 Place 0 Show	Total Career Earnings: $52,965 Top Speed rating (88) when taking the Smooth Air S. at Gulfstream Park
Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners et al Breeder: Shain Crain Trainer: Gustavo Delgado Jockey: Luan Machado	Sire: Commissioner Dam: Eastern Ruckus Color: Chestnut

This son of Commissioner has failed to progress following a sharp tally in the Smooth Air S. in November, being outrun in a pair of 2020 races since. Chestnut has faced off with some nice runners, and he also has room for improvement when making his third run off the break. Luan Machado has the call atop the win contender.

2 Starts 0 Wins 2 Place 0 Show	Total Career Earnings: $24,800 Top Speed rating (100) when second in maiden race at Churchill Downs
Owner: Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Mt. Brilliant Farm Breeder: Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, LLC Trainer: Michael Stidham Jockey: Mitchell Murrill	Sire: Constitution Dam: Ithinkisawapudycat Color: Bay

$400,000 yearling purchase has been runner-up in both lifetime races and will aim to break his maiden in the graded ranks. Michael Stidham trainee is bred to be a nice one, and he gives the impression of a colt who will thrive with the added distance as well. The bay colt showed early pace going one mile most recently, and he figures to be forwardly placed once again under Mitchell Murrill.

7 Starts 2 Wins 0 Place 2 Show	Total Career Earnings: $1,235,451 Top Speed rating (102) in 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) victory
Owner: David A Bernsen and Exline-Border Racing Breeder: Stepping Stone Farm Trainer: Peter Eurton Jockey: Flavien Prat	Sire: Court Vision Dam: Tejana Storm Color: Bay

Storm The Court Gallop at Oaklawn Park (Coady Photography)

Champion son of Court Vision is winless from a trio of tries this campaign and will remove the blinkers for this run. The Peter Eurton pupil has squared off with graded foes in six straight assignments, and he will likely appreciate the measure of class relief on Saturday in his local debut. Top contender also drilled a bullet 6 panels leading up to this test. Regular pilot Flavien Prat will be on board.

5 Starts 1 Win 1 Place 0 Show	Total Career Earnings: $36,120 Top Speed rating (102) in maiden runner-up at Gulfstream Park
Owner: Calumet Farm Breeder: Calumet Farm Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Deshawn Parker	Sire: Violence Dam: Tapit Ten Color: Dark Bay

Todd Pletcher trainee graduated well with an open-length score in an off-the-turf engagement at Gulfstream Park. The Calumet homebred has trained in swift fashion in the interim, but he will still need a big move forward to be a contender inside the final furlong on Saturday. Deshawn Parker will be in the stirrups.

6 Starts 2 Wins 1 Place 0 Show	Total Career Earnings: $77,600 Top Speed rating (95) when winning the Easy Goer
Owner: Imperial Racing Breeder: Stoneview Farm and Craig Upham Trainer: Ray Handal Jockey: Reylu Gutierrez	Sire: Congrats Dam: Shylock’s Daughter Color: Bay

This son of Congrats, who drew the widest post in the field, will scratch after romping in Thursday's Easy Goer at Belmont in a two-horse race.