Mo Tom Gets the Ideal Trip and the Ohio Derby Win
In the 82nd running of the Ohio Derby, JACK Thistledown Racino’s signature race which carries a $500,000 slot revenue enhanced purse, the even money favorite Mo Tom got a perfect trip and rallied to victory from the back of the field.
Mo Tom, who had troubled trips in his last three starts according to the running lines in the TimeformUS – “steadied and fanned 7 wide” in the Kentucky Derby, “checked sharply” in the Louisiana Derby, and “checked” in the Risen Star, got a rider change to the three-time Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano.
Castellano made sure that Mo Tom would not run into any trouble today. He let the son of Uncle Mo settle in ninth position out of ten and then made sure to keep him outside every step of the way as they carefully passed by the field to win the nine furlong stake by three lengths in a final time of 1:51.82.
It has been a very big week for Cleveland sports fans, who came out in force to celebrate the NBA Championship won by Northeast Ohio native LeBron James and the Cavaliers. The win by the Cavs had me remembering my college days in Cleveland when I used to watch the then expansion NBA team. The Ohio Derby took me back to the days when I used to borrow my roommate’s orange VW Beetle and make the eight-mile drive from campus to Thistledown.
Today, at Thistledown the race played out pretty much as expected. While Mo Tom waited to make his winning move, another son of Uncle Mo, Ohio-bred Mo Dont No, jumped out of the gate to set the early pace. Mo Dont No is owned by Akron, Ohio, based Loooch Racing Stables Inc. Graded stakes winner Cocked and Loaded was quick to challenge the local runner and the two carved out early fractions of 23.84 and 28.82. A half-mile of run was all that Mo Dont No could muster and Cocked and Loaded went three-quarters in 1:13.60 and the mile in 1:38.88 on the lead.
The table was set for Mo Tom and Castellano. After six furlongs they were in seventh only 2 ¾ behind, gaining quickly and easily. At the stretch call they were in front by a half-length and drew off with authority to get the victory.
The earliest runnings of the Ohio Derby date back to 1876 and currently it is run without graded stakes status, although at one time the Ohio Derby was a grade two, but most recently was a grade three until 2014. Past notable winners include Skip Away (1996), Lost Code (1987), Broad Brush (1986), Smarten (1979), Our Native (1973), and Black Gold (1924).
This was the first win for GMB Racing’s Mo Tom since his impressive victory in the LeComte (G3) on the Kentucky Derby Trail back in January. The $300,000 winner’s share of the purse upped his career earnings to $591,526 and his record to 9: 4-0-3. Across the board Mo Tom paid $4.20, 2.80. and 2.40.
Adventist, rallied to finish second at odds of 6-1 and the 87-1 longshot Discreet Lover, who shipped in from Parx racing got up for third, and Cocked and Loaded faded to fourth. The $1 trifecta paid $149.20.