Ohio Derby 2017: Odds and Analysis
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
Saturday's Grade 3 Ohio Derby, the state's richest and only graded race, attracted a good mix of Kentucky Derby participants going against horses looking to make a name for themselves for the first time. All told, the half-million-dollar race for three-year-olds drew a solid field of nine. Let's take a look a the field set to travel nine furlongs over the main track at JACK Thistledown ...
6) Girvin (7-5) - The fact that 'Big Money' Mike Smith is coming into town to ride the same horse he was on in the Kentucky Derby, tells us all we need to know in order to declare this one the horse to beat. In the Run for the Roses, he attempted to overcome a healing quarter crack, a sloppy track, and a rough trip. He could not do so, but considering everything, it's hard to believe the 13th-place finish was his best. The winner of both the Risen Star Stakes and the Louisiana Derby before heading to Louisville, looks to be well spotted to win his third graded stakes in the last four starts. The Joe Sharp trained colt should sit a nice trip behind the early leaders, and have every chance to win this as the field turns for home. More Big Money for Mike
3) Untrapped (5-1) - The horse that finished one spot ahead of the top pick in the Kentucky Derby was close to earning a graded stakes win in three different races this winter. He faltered a bit in his last two, but the cut back in distance, and a little bit of class relief, should put him right back in the mix. Ricardo Santana will have to time his rally well in order to give the son of Trappe Shot his best chance to win at nine furlongs. The good looking colt might have to settle for second again, just as he did behind Girvin in the Risen Star. Needs Well Timed Ride
2) Irap (5-2) - The strapping son of Tiznow has only won once in nine career starts, but he picked a good one for a breakthrough, scoring against a strong Blue Grass field. He could not carry over that momentum to the first Saturday in May, but few in the 20-horse field could. Irap should get a good trip on the rail under Julien Leparoux, likely just behind the early speed of Fast and Accurate. It would come as no surprise if he gets brave at the eighth pole, but I expect this will be one more time where he is not quite good enough to get to the wire first. On the Lead at the Head of the Lane
5) Sorry Erik (6-1) - Kent Desormeaux stays on this stretch running son for the fourth consecutive time. He has not connected yet, including two defeats at the hands of Girvin, but it looks to be just a matter of time before he wins a stakes race. If the pace in here is strong, his chances of running a big one move way up. I'm not sure he has the class of the top three, but if things go just right, he looks capable of the upset. Should be Motoring Late
1X) Game Over (10-1) - The first of the trio from Loooch Racing, he's only run twice in his career, but both were sharp wins. The first was a sprint at Oaklawn Park, and the second came going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs. In both races, the horse he beat came back to win. Clearly, this will be both a class and a distance test, but he looks to have the talent to at least be in with a chance as the field turns for home. Lightly Race and Talented
1A) Vibe (10-1) - This well traveled son of Astrology has bounced around barns of late, but he has also thrown in his best three races in his last three, including a nine-furlong win at Churchill Downs most recently. The Loooch runner should be near the early pace, and is not without hope in here with continued improvement. He also moves up if the track is wet. Barn Bouncer
6) Fast and Accurate (8-1) - The speedy winner of the Spiral is the fourth runner from the Kentucky Derby in here. Unlike the other three, though, he has raced since, when he set the early pace on the turf in the Arlington Classic. He folded up his tent in the stretch in that one, and now back on dirt, where he is 0-for-2, he faces a tougher test at Thistledown. He should be out there early, but I do not like his chances to stick around. Early Speed
7) Hinton (30-1) - This son of Candy Ride has done nothing wrong for trainer Thomas Drury in four career starts. He's won three times with a nice tactical running style that should suit him well in his career. The problem is that he has only faced so much in maiden and optional claiming events at Turfway Park and Belterra Park. This represents a big move up in class, which he will likely not be prepared to overcome. Stepping Way Up
1) Talk Less (10-1) - The third of the Loooch crew, this son of Blame is actually unbeaten on dirt, after losing his first four career starts on grass. Unfortunately for his chances on Saturday, he also has faced much lesser competition along the way. While his career has made a move forward since the surface switch, his winning streak looks to come to a screeching halt in the Ohio Derby. Winning Streak Ends
Read More
This is the 17th and final installment of a weekly feature exclusive to Horse Racing Nation tracking the...
Forever Young earned a sparkling 140 Horse Racing Nation speed figure for his victory in Saturday's Breeders' Cup...
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, held Monday at the Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky., posted sales of more than...
Owen Almighty , the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner who most recently placed third in the Perryville...
A decade after Michelle Payne became the first woman win Australia's most famous race, Jamie Melham has etched herself...