Former claimer Ohio stuns Catapult in Frank Kilroe Mile photo finish

Longshot Ohio, an 8-year-old gelding who ran for a $28,000 tag last summer, stalked the early pace, took command a quarter mile from home and prevailed by scant nose over heavily favored Catapult in taking Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile under Ruben Fuentes.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Brazilian-bred Ohio got a mile on grass in 1:33.71.  

In what appeared to be a pace-less race on paper, Irish-bred Hunt, who broke from the rail, took the Kilroe lead away from Ohio as the field emerged from the Club House turn and began its run up the backside. Heading into the far turn, Hunt enjoyed a one-length advantage, but Ohio headed him a quarter mile from home and then held off what appeared to many as the winning charge of the favorite. 

The stewards determined that Ohio had in fact held off Catapult who was in full flight to his outside.  

Off at 9-1, Ohio, who was claimed for $50,000 six starts back on June 10, was most recently second in the Grade 3 Thunder Road and paid $21.20, $5.80 and $3.80.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bruce Treitman, Ohio picked up $240,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $488,065. The win improved his overall mark to 26-9-4-2.  

Catapult, who was a close second two starts back in the Breeder’s Cup Mile and was fourth over a yielding turf in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park Jan. 26, was off as the 4-5 favorite in a field of six older horses and paid $2.80 and $2.20.  

Longshot Desert Stone prevailed in a nose photo over 5-2 second choice River Boyne for the show and paid $6.00 to show.  

Fractions on the race were 23.98, 47.39, 1:10.47 and 1:21.99.