Lone Sailor, Core Beliefs seek breakthrough in Ohio Derby
G M B Racing and trainer Tom Amoss won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at JACK Thistledown Racino two years ago with Mo Tom and hope to win again this year with Lone Sailor, but the waters get deeper for Saturday’s 84th running. The race regained its graded status last year and the field reflects the change.
Third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) as a 2-year-old, off the board in the LeComte Stakes (G3) to start his 3-year-old season and second, beaten just a neck, in the Louisiana Derby (G2), Lone Sailor still seeks his first graded win. In his next two starts he was eighth in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Preakness Stakes, beaten just two lengths in the latter.
“It’s no secret how Lone Sailor is going to run,” said Amoss. “He’ll drop back and make his run. We’re hoping it sets up for a closer. We’re hoping the field holds together and looking for the speed to give him the proper setup. But this is a harder field than when we won the first time.
“He did not have a good trip in the Kentucky Derby,” Amoss continued, “and even though he only got beat a couple of lengths in the Preakness, it seemed the proper move now to try one of the Midwest derbies.”
In his last two works, Lone Sailor posted back-to-back bullet breezes at Churchill Downs, both four furlongs: June 3 (:47 flat, best of 64 at the distance) and June 11 (:47.20 in the mud, best of 30).
Lone Sailor will ship to JACK Thistledown Friday, with Amoss on hand to saddle him Saturday. Second choice on the morning line at 3-1, he will break from post three with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.
In his five career starts, Peter Eurton’s trainee Core Beliefs has never been out of the money despite a troubled trip and competition that includes the very top of the sophomore class. After breaking his maiden at Santa Anita in his third start, Core Beliefs next ran third behind eventual Triple Crown winner Justify and multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d’Oro in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). In his most recent start, the Peter Pan Stakes (G3), he finished second despite stumbling out of the gate and shying a furlong from home while on the lead.
“In the Peter Pan he made the lead from the one hole, but that stumble didn’t help him because they were four abreast,” Eurton said. “He was pushed pretty hard the whole way.”
A Kentucky-bred son of Quality Road, Core Beliefs will break from post 10 for the Ohio Derby, which suits Eurton just fine.
“I actually like the 10 post,” Eurton said. “It’s a pretty good run to the first turn there. Obviously three or four others also have speed.”
Core Beliefs prepped for the Ohio Derby with a work on Sunday, going five furlongs handily in 1:01 flat at Santa Anita before shipping out to northern Ohio Monday. He walked the shedrow Tuesday and will be sent out to gallop Wednesday.
Top West Coast jockey Joe Talamo is also making the trip to Ohio to ride Core Beliefs for the first time.
The Ohio Derby will be the ninth of 10 races Saturday, with post time set for 5:10 p.m. To accommodate 10 races, first post will be moved to 1:10 p.m. instead of the usual 1:40 p.m.