Asmussen contenders need 'their best race' to win Ohio Derby
Title Ready, fourth in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and most recently second in the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard, and Dream Baby Dream, second in the Sunland Derby (G3) and fifth in the Sir Barton, represent the powerhouse barn of Steve Asmussen in Saturday's Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby.
Long time assistant Scott Blasi said they’ll need their best efforts in the talented field.
“Both of them are training well and shipped in well. We’re looking for Title Ready to improve off his race in Baltimore and we need Dream Baby Dream to run back to what he did in the Sunland Derby,” said Blasi. Noting the presence of top choices Flameaway and Lone Sailor in the field, Blasi said, “Ours will have to run their best race to beat those two.”
Title Ready is one of several in the field with speed but can sit back if necessary. The good effort in the Sir Barton on Noah’s Ark day at Pimlico bodes well, given Saturday’s forecast. Dream Baby Dream could benefit from the abundance of speed in the field, as he tends to race not just off the pace but well off the pace. C. J. McMahon will ride Title Ready. Top local rider Ricky Feliciano has the mount on Dream Baby Dream. Both ride their charges for the first time.
Title Ready and Dream Baby Dream arrived at JACK Thistledown early Friday afternoon.
Caloric is a 30-1 long shot on Saturday’s morning line but local trainer Odin Londono Jr. likes the way the Stay Thirsty colt has been training since moving from Florida to northeast Ohio.
Londono claimed Caloric for $16,000 out of his winning one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park February 7. He was next off the board in the Tampa Bay Derby, a race Londono said he entered “to see what I had.” He was most recently fourth in the Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle, charging from 14 lengths off the pace in the six-furlong race to be beaten just 3 1/2 lengths and only a neck shy of third.
“I was looking for a horse for this particular race and he stood out,” said Londono. “I liked that he’s a long distance (pedigree) but had only run (sprints). And he’d only started three times, so I could train him almost from the beginning. He’s been training good here. I think that’s an advantage, that this is his home track. I’d like to see him maybe third, a length or two off the pace. He doesn’t have to be on the lead but he might be.”
Ricardo Mejias rode Caloric in the Tom Ridge and is back aboard Saturday.
O’Kratos jogged a mile and galloped a mile Friday morning. “We took the pony because he has a pony at home he lives with, so we wanted to do the same things with him,” said assistant trainer and exercise rider Erika Smilovsky, wife of trainer Darwin Banach. “He went like a champ. There’s no ‘whoa’ in this horse, only ‘go.’”
Core Beliefs galloped Friday morning, according to trainer Peter Eurton’s foreman, Luis Martinez. Takedown walked the shedrow. Lone Sailor arrived on the grounds around noon Friday.
To accommodate Saturday’s 10-race card, first post is 1:10 p.m. ET. The Ohio Derby is scheduled for 5:10 p.m., the ninth race. The feature is supported by the George Lewis Memorial, 1 1/8 miles for accredited Ohio foals 3 years old and up, and the black type J. Wm Petro Memorial Handicap, 1 1/16 miles for registered Ohio fillies and mares 3 years old and up.