2022 Ohio Derby Contenders & Odds

UPDATE: JUNE 24 - Brigadier General will be scratched from Saturday's Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby and will instead target the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby on July 9, trainer Dallas Stewart said Thursday night. The scratch will reduce the field for the Ohio Derby to seven.

White Abarrio Seeks to Regroup in Ohio Derby

White Abarrio, owned by C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC, who captured the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream March 26, will seek to regroup from an off-the-board finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in Saturday's $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.

The 2022 Ohio Derby field includes the winners of the Florida Derby (G1), Tampa Bay Derby (G2), Holy Bull (G3) and Lexington (G3). Two other 3-year-olds who won stakes races are in the field, and a trio of the contestants ran in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

"It's a very important race - his first race since the Derby. We want to get back on track," said trainer Joseph Thursday from Ohio. "It's a competitive race. There are some good horses in the race, so he's going to have to bring his `A' Game."

Tyler Gaffalione has the call the 3-year-old son of Race Day, who has gone undefeated in four starts at Gulfstream and 0-for-2 at Churchill Downs, where he finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall.

White Abarrio, who is rated second in the morning-line at 7-2, will face Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Tawny Port, who was beaten only 4 ¾ lengths by Rich Strike while finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby. Brad Cox-trained Tawny Port is the 3-1 morning-line favorite. Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Classic Causeway will seek to rebound from back-to-back 11th-place finishes in the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby in his first start for trainer Kenny McPeek.

White Abarrio, who also captured the Holy Bull (G3) during Gulfstream's Championship Meet, finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby after racing wide throughout.

"It was a fast pace and he was hung wide at every bend. He was like five-wide, seven-wide, nine-wide. He never really got a chance," Joseph said. "He made a move from the half-mile to the quarter-pole. But when he was making the move, you knew he couldn't sustain it because of how wide he was running. After he made the move, he flattened out. He was a tired horse."

The Ohio Derby is part of a 10-race card on Saturday at Thistledown, which also will host the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline for open fillies and mares. The race drew a field of 10, including Grade 1 winner Maracuja and graded stakes winners Army Wife and Crazy Beautiful.

The card also includes the $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds and the $75,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes for Ohio-accredited runners.

The Ohio Derby is the signature race of the Thistledown season. It was initially held in 1876, and after a few stops and starts, has been held annually since 1952. The race has maintained its Grade 3 status and 1 �...>-mile distance since 2017.

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Cross Country Pick 5 - Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Monmouth Park and Thistledown

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host an all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, June 25 featuring racing from Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Monmouth Park and Thistledown.

The sequence, which features fives stakes to be completed in less than one hour, kicks off in Race 8 at Belmont Park at 4:40 p.m. Eastern with the Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose at 1 1/16-miles for sophomore fillies. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sends out Group 3 UAE Oaks-winner Shahama for her second start in North America following an off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. She will face returning rival Venti Valentine and a new challenger in Grade 1-winner Juju's Map.

Action switches to Monmouth for the Goldwood [Race 11, 4:47 p.m.] as an overflow field of fillies and mares 3-and-up sprint 5 1/2-furlongs over the turf led by nine-time winner Hey Mamaluke for trainer Patricia Farro. An experienced field includes multiple-stakes winner Robin Sparkles for trainer Bruce Brown and the consistent pair of Champagne Lady, who has hit the board in her last five starts for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey; and Honey Pants, who boasts a record of 13-3-6-0 for conditioner Christophe Clement.

The middle leg, the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline [Race 10, 4:48 p.m.], offers a field of 10 fillies and mares 3-and-up traveling nine furlongs at Thistledown topped by multiple graded-stakes winner Crazy Beautiful for trainer Ken McPeek. Steep opposition will be provided by multiple graded-stakes winner Army Wife for conditioner Mike Maker and the Rob Atras-trained Maracuja, who captured the Grade 1 CCA Oaks last summer at Saratoga Race Course.

A field of seven older fillies and mares will line up in the penultimate leg, the Grade 3 Chicago [Race 9, 4:55 p.m.] at seven furlongs over the Churchill Downs main track. The regally-bred Pennybaker, whose dam Macaroon is a full-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Frosted, will look to improve on her five-race win streak in her graded debut. The Michael Stidham trainee captured the Heavenly Cause last out in her first stateside start. A talented group includes Grade 1-winner Bell's the One and graded-stakes winners Sconsin, Four Graces, Kalypso, and Lady Rocket.

Closing out the sequence is a field of eight sophomores in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Ohio Derby [Race 11, 5:35 p.m.] from Thistledown. Grade 1 Florida Derby winner White Abarrio will look to make amends from an off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby for conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr., facing off against fellow Derby starters Tawny Port, winner of the Grade 3 Lexington for trainer Brad Cox; and Classic Causeway, who makes his first start for McPeek after taking the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis and Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby for his former trainer Brian Lynch. Ethereal Road, an emphatic winner of the Sir Barton last out at Pimlico, could be a factor late for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5, which features a low 15 percent takeout, will continue each Saturday throughout the year.

Cross Country Pick 5 - Saturday, June 25:

Leg 1 - Belmont-Race 8, G2 Mother Goose (4:40 p.m. Eastern)

Leg 2 - Monmouth-Race 11, $100K Goldwood (4:47 p.m.)

Leg 3 - Thistledown-Race 10, $250K Lady Jacqueline (4:48 p.m.)

Leg 4 - Churchill-Race 9, G3 Chicago (4:55 p.m.)

Leg 5 - Thistledown-Race 11, G3 Ohio Derby (5:35 p.m.)

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