A fascinating and competitive field of ten three-year-olds is set to contest the $500,000 Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown this Saturday. The 1 1/8-mile journey will test class and stamina, with Preakness Stakes alumnus Clever Again looking to rebound to his winning ways as the likely favorite.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, the speedy colt brings high-end talent but faces questions about the classic distance.
Challenging the favorite is a strong contingent of proven stakes performers. McAfee, fresh off a game runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes, brings sharp form from the competitive New York circuit for trainer Richard E. Dutrow Jr.
Meanwhile, Chunk of Gold, a hard-knocking colt who finished second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, looks to capitalize on a significant class drop after a troubled trip in the Kentucky Derby.
The Field
1. Brereton’s Baytown (30/1) – This gelding has been tested against top-tier company this year, competing in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Rebel Stakes (G2), and Peter Pan (G3). Still, it has yet to hit the board in graded stakes competition. His two career victories came against maiden and claiming company. While he possesses a decent late kick, he appears to be a cut below the leading contenders regarding class and speed figures.
2. Chunk of Gold (7/2) – This colt was a mainstay on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, earning hard-fought second-place finishes in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at the Fair Grounds. He finds a more suitable spot here after an understandably tough outing in the Kentucky Derby (G1). His tactical style and proven ability to compete at this level make him a formidable threat who should appreciate the race shape.
3. Capo Luca (10/1) – A true “horse for the course,” this colt boasts a perfect three-for-three record over the Thistledown main track, with all three victories coming this year. He is in razor-sharp form, having won his last three starts, but faces a significant step up in class. While his affinity for the surface is a major asset, he will need a career-best effort to defeat this caliber of rival.
4. McAfee (3/1) – Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., this colt enters off a career-best performance, finishing second by a neck in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes at Aqueduct. He possesses tactical speed, having set the pace before being narrowly defeated, and earned a strong 93 figure for the effort. With top jockey John Velazquez aboard, he figures to be a central player from the start and is a major contender for the win.
5. Extradition (20/1) – Another runner with local success, he comes into the race following a win and a third-place finish in allowance company at Thistledown. His form has improved since being transferred to trainer Jason DaCosta, but his previous attempts in stakes races for former trainer Steve Asmussen were lackluster. He will need to show significant improvement to factor against this group.
6. Clever Again (9/5) – The morning-line favorite brings a resume with a dominant win in the Hot Springs Stakes and an appearance in the Preakness Stakes (G1). His figure of 101 is the highest in the field, marking him as the most brilliant horse on paper. However, he is a pure front-runner in a race with other speed, and he faded in the Preakness, leaving his effectiveness at the 1 1/8-mile distance as a legitimate concern.
7. Bohemian Style (30/1) – This gelding enters from the claiming ranks, having recently been acquired for $12,500. His career has primarily been spent at Presque Isle and Tampa Bay Downs, and his lifetime earnings of just over $29,000 paint a clear picture of how steep this class jump is. He is not expected to be a factor.
8. Curvino (12/1) – An intriguing longshot, this colt has consistently faced tough competition and brings the field’s best late-pace figure (109) into the race. While he finished sixth in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks, he has been tested against strong company and has hit the board in four of his last seven starts, often picking up checks in high-level allowance races at Oaklawn and Churchill. A likely fast pace up front would significantly boost his chances to close for a major share.
9. Master Controller (20/1) – He broke his maiden impressively in his last start, but that was in a six-furlong sprint. His previous attempts at routing as a two-year-old resulted in him fading out of contention. While he possesses early speed, he faces major hurdles in both the significant class rise and the challenging distance.
10. Mo Plex (6/1) – This New York-bred has been a force against state-bred competition, amassing four wins and $445,000 in earnings. He is a proven winner, but this will be his toughest test against open, graded-stakes company around two turns. His speed figures are competitive, and he has a winning mentality, but whether his form will translate is the key question.
Win, Place, Show, Wildcard, and Longshot
Win: (4) McAfee (3/1) – He seems poised for a breakthrough victory. His effort in the G3 Peter Pan was excellent, and he has the tactical speed to sit a perfect trip just behind what should be a hotly contested pace. He is battle-tested and comes from a top barn.
Place: (2) Chunk of Gold (7/2) – His form from the Fair Grounds is top-class for this event. The expected fast pace should play right into the hands of this grinder. He represents a significant class drop from the Kentucky Derby and should be charging hard in the stretch.
Show: (6) Clever Again (9/5) – He is the fastest and most talented horse in the race, but also vulnerable. A likely pace battle and the 1 1/8-mile distance could prove his undoing at short odds. He could easily win but also tire late to settle for a minor award.
Wildcard: (10) Mo Plex (6/1) – This colt knows how to find the winner’s circle, albeit against softer, state-bred competition. He has the speed to be involved from the outset. If he can carry his formidable New York form to Ohio and handle the class hike, he has the talent to pull off a minor upset.
Longshot: (8) Curvino (12/1) – If the pace completely melts down, this is the horse who will benefit most. He has the strongest late kick in the field and has experience running in graded stakes like the Jeff Ruby Steaks. At double-digit odds, his closing style makes him the most likely of the longshots to make an impact and spoil the exacta and trifecta if the front-runners tire.
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