First Look: Ohio Derby leads 5 stakes at 3 tracks

Churchill Downs might dominate next week's conversation with the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, but this coming weekend offers quality stakes from Ohio to Pennsylvania. Thistledown takes center stage with the Grade 3 Ohio Derby, and Penn National adds fuel with the rescheduled Grade 3 Penn Mile and Penn Oaks.

The Ohio Derby features a clash between McAfee and Clever Again in a battle of 3-year-olds seeking redemption after recent setbacks. Richard Dutrow Jr.'s McAfee heads west from New York after his near-miss in the Peter Pan (G3), and Steve Asmussen's Clever Again looks to bounce back from his troubled Preakness effort.

Five stakes this week across three tracks give handicappers plenty of action before Stephen Foster day at Churchill Downs dominates the headlines next Saturday.

Friday

Penn Mile (G3), Penn National, 1 mile, turf, 3-year-olds

States' Rights broke his maiden at Keeneland in October, drawing off by 1 1/4 lengths in a turf maiden special weight. The 3-year-old son of Constitution has developed into a consistent performer in allowance company, finishing second in consecutive starts at Keeneland and Fair Grounds this year. The $350,000 yearling purchase shows five turf starts with one victory and three runner-up efforts. Mi Bago has three wins from six career turf starts, including recent stakes wins in the Colonel Liam at Gulfstream Park and the Pulpit at Gulfstream by five lengths. The son of Vekoma ended up fourth in the American Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs most recently after leading through the early stages.

Accent carries a perfect record to her first stakes assignment, having captured her lone start at Tampa Bay in April. The Chad Brown-trained filly overcame traffic trouble in her turf debut, surging from seventh to win by a neck. Love You Anyway comes in off her breakthrough maiden victory at Keeneland, where she scored by 2 3/4 lengths after settling in third. The George Arnold filly ran fifth in the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and third in her career debut at Gulfstream.

Vahva returns to defend her title after capturing this event last year. The 5-year-old mare by Gun Runner has won five of 10 career starts at the seven-furlong, including wins in the Derby City Distaff (G1) and Chicago (G3) last year. However, she enters off a disappointing seventh-place effort in the Derby City Distaff (G1) on May 3. My Mane Squeeze brings consistent form with back-to-back third-place efforts in the Ruffian (G2) and Madison (G1) this year. The 4-year-old daughter of Audible has hit the board in seven of her last eight starts.

Ohio Derby (G3), Thistledown, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds

McAfee comes in off a second in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3), where he led for a short time before being caught. The 3-year-old has shown graded stakes ability with fifths in the Wood Memorial (G2) and Gotham Stakes (G3). His lone career victory came in his Churchill Downs debut, rallying to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Clever Again won the Hot Springs by four lengths, earning a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form, but disappointed with a ninth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) after being roughed up in traffic. The American Pharoah colt broke his maiden at Oaklawn in March, leading throughout for a 3 1/4-length score.

Lady Jacqueline, Thistledown, 1 1/8 miles, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Candlelight Hours took an allowance race at Thistledown on June 9 last time out. The 6-year-old mare displays strong affinity for this track with 24 finishes in the top three and $445,390 in earnings from 25 starts. Where's My Ring enters off a sixth-place finish in the Shawnee (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 31, her first start since placing third in the Apple Blossom (G1). The 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy captured an allowance at Oaklawn by 12 1/4 lengths in March.