Regaining graded status this year, the Ohio Derby drew four horses that last competed in the Kentucky Derby.
Stakes winners Girvin, Irap and Fast and Accurate, along with Arkansas-owned Untrapped, head the field in today's Grade 3 $500,000 race for 3-year-olds at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio. All finished far back as longshots May 6 at Churchill Downs with Untrapped 12th at 58-1, Girvin 13th at 22-1, Irap 18th at 41-1 and Fast and Accurate 17th at 41-1.
Girvin, a multiple Grade 2 winner at Fair Grounds for trainer Joe Sharp, is the 2-1 program favorite under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. Girvin had problems with a quarter crack before the Kentucky Derby and, like many in the 20-horse field, struggled over the wet track. He is perfect in three starts on fast tracks, the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby included.
"He had a tough trip in the (Kentucky) Derby, but with 20 horses you know going in that you can get into trouble," Sharp was quoted on bloodhorse.com. "I was actually more nervous before the Louisiana Derby, because we were expected to win. He's really, really doing well. We're really looking forward to the rest of his 3-year-old season."
Irap gained his maiden victory in Keeneland's Grade 2 Blue Grass at 31-1. That has proven somewhat of a key race with fifth-place finisher Tapwrit returning to win the Belmont Stakes and pacesetter Wild Shot coming back to take the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile. Julien Leparoux rides Irap, the early 3-1 second choice, for two time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill.
After two stakes seconds at Fair Grounds, Untrapped finished third in Oaklawn's Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and sixth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby for Jonesboro owner Mike Langford. Five-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, whose Lookin At Lee was the only horse to enter all three Triple Crown events this year.
"With the time off since the Kentucky Derby I expect him to be fairly sharp," said Asmussen, saying that Untrapped, in post two, "drew well."
Untrapped is 9-2 on the program while Fast and Accurate, the Grade 3 Spiral winner at Turfway Park for trainer Mike Maker, enters at 8-1.
Owner Ron Paolucci entered three horses in his state's only graded race: Talk Less, Vibe and Game Over, the latter a sprint winner at Oaklawn when owned by Gary and Mary West and trained by Asmussen.
Race eight on the Thistledown program, the Ohio Derby is set for 4:30 p.m. CT.
Long a Grade 3 event, the Ohio Derby achieved Grade 2 status in 2008 but was ungraded the last three years. The race was lengthened from a mile and sixteenth to nine furlongs last year with Mo Tom winning under Javier Castellano for trainer Tom Amoss. Past winners include Oaklawn Park stakes winner Caleb's Posse, Oaklawn stakes-placed Mr. Z and 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away.
Sports on 06/24/2017