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Ohio Derby Heads Thistledown Stakes Schedule

All 17 of the stakes presented by Thistledown last year will return for the 2012 meet including Ohio's only graded stakes, the Ohio Derby (gr. III).

Caleb's Posse Wins Ohio Derby

Caleb's Posse rebounded from a poor effort in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) last out to win the $100,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) June 4 at Thistledown.

THS: Aristides Stakes 2011

Jason, Tom and Les of TwinSpires.com handicap the Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

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Caleb's Posse, Wilkinson Headline Ohio Derby

Led by Caleb's Posse and Wilkinson, the $100,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) drew a field of 10 for Thistledown's signature race on June 4.

Ohio Derby Field Taking Shape

The field for the $100,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) June 4 at Thistledown is beginning to sort itself out. The 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds is Ohio's richest race and the state's only graded stakes

Ohio Derby Heads Thistledown Schedule

The 77th running of the $100,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) at Thistledown returns to its traditional June scheduling this year.

Pleasant Prince Snatches Ohio Derby at Wire

Favored Pleasant Prince closed with a burst to snatch victory from Worldly by a nose at the wire of the $100,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) at Thistledown July 31.

Pleasant Prince Favored in Ohio Derby

Pleasant Prince, making his first start since the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), is the 6-5 morning line favorite for the $100,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) at Thistledown July 31.

Ohio Derby Has Firm Spot on 2010 Calendar

The Ohio Derby, with a smaller purse and lower grade, will be run July 31, Thistledown officials said.

Gone Astray Finds Right Path in Ohio Derby

Odds-on choice Gone Astray closed stoutly to sweep past pacesetter War Fighter en route to a 2 1/4-length win in the $150,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at cloudy Thistledown Oct. 3.

THS: The Indiana Derby (Video)

Tom, Evan, and Tim Holland of brisnet preview the Indiana Derby (gr. II) and the Ohio Derby (gr.II).

Better Late Than Never for Ohio Derby

The Ohio Derby (gr. II), returned to the Thistledown stakes schedule only six weeks ago upon order of the Ohio State Racing Commission, has drawn a field of 13, including the winner of a $1-million race in his previous start.

Ohio Derby Gets Decent Number of Nominees

Thirty-two nominations are pretty good for a race that, up until six weeks ago, wasn't even on the schedule. Thistledown officials Sept. 23 said that's the number of nominees for the grade II Ohio Derby Oct. 3. The purse is $150,000, down from $300,000 last year.

Racing Commission: Cut Dates, Run Ohio Derby

The Ohio State Racing Commission Aug. 20 brought the grade II Ohio Derby back to the schedule this year by ordering a reduction of five live racing days at Thistledown, traditional host for the only graded stakes in the Buckeye State.

Ohio Derby May Not Be Dead for 2009

Host track Thistledown, the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and the Ohio State Racing Commission are discussing ways to restore the grade II Ohio Derby in 2009, officials said April 21.

Thistledown Suspends Ohio Derby in 2009

Thistledown, at the suggestion of the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, has suspended the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) for 3-year-olds. The race was to have its 75th running in 2009.

Deputy Glitters to Journeyman Stud

Two-time Derby-winning 3-year-old Deputy Glitters has been retired from racing and will stand his first season in 2009 at Brent and Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Fla.

Smooth Air Much the Best in Ohio Derby

Manoel Cruz gave Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air a perfect stalking trip and the Smooth Jazz colt responded with authority, taking over just inside the eighth-pole and then drawing clear for a three-length victory in the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) May 31 at Thistledown.

Smooth Air Favored in Ohio Derby

Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air drew the rail and was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) May 31 at Thistledown, but he will meet some pretty stiff competition, namely, graded stakes winner Z Fortune.

Smooth Air's Trainer Happy to Be Back

Bennie Stutts Jr. is looking forward to visiting northern Ohio for the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) May 31. But unlike his first trip--about 51 years ago--Stutts won't need a snow shovel.

Smooth Air in Sharp Work for Ohio Derby

Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air, runner-up to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Big Brown in the Florida Derby (gr. I), completed his serious work for the May 31 Ohio Derby (gr. II) with a sharp seven-furlong work at Arlington Park May 25.

Smooth Air Likely Bound for Ohio Derby

Mount Joy Stable's 3-year-old Smooth Air bounced out of his 11th-place finish behind Big Brown in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) at Churchill Downs in good condition, and trainer Bennie Stutts, Jr. now has him targeted for the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown May 31.

Macho Again to Skip Preakness

Trainer Dallas Stewart said the morning of May 9 that West Point Thoroughbreds' Macho Again would bypass the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and instead point to the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown May 31.

Brass Hat a Rarity in Racing

In a day and age when retiring graded stakes winners as 3-and 4-year-olds is the now the norm, the Thoroughbred racing industry is in desperate need of older superstars. Gutsy horses that fans can get attached to and follow for the better part of a decade.

Brass Hat Preps for Clark 'Cap

Fred Bradley's homebred Brass Hat tuned up for a Nov. 23 engagement in the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. II) by working five furlongs in 1:00.60 under jockey Willie Martinez Nov. 16.

Millionaire Kissin Kris to Canada

Kissin Kris, winner of the 1993 Haskell Invitational (gr. I) and the earner of over $1.6 million in his racing career, has moved from Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in California to Canada's Esquirol Farm.

Delightful Kiss Plants Ohio Derby Upset

Hobeau Farm homebred Delightful Kiss, overlooked at odds of nearly 25-1, charged to his first stakes victory from the outside under a patient Jeffrey Sanchez, winning the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) for 3-year-olds by 3 1/2 lengths Saturday at Thistledown.

Cowtown Cat Expected to Rebound in Ohio Derby

Cowtown Cat, winner of the Illinois Derby (gr. II) and Gotham Stakes (gr. III) this season, drew the No. 6 post position and has been installed the 5-2 morning line favorite for Saturday's $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown.

West Virginia Derby, at $750,000, Attracts 59 Nominees

Deputy Glitters, High Cotton, and Flashy Bull, the top three finishers, respectively, in the Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown, and the lightly raced but impressive Bright One are among the 59 nominees for the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort on Aug. 6.

Deputy Glitters Picks Off 'Cotton in Ohio Derby

Deputy Glitters, under a determined ride from Rene Douglas, prevailed in a long stretch drive over 11-10 favorite High Cotton to capture the $350,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) by a neck at Thistledown Saturday.

HRTV to Broadcast Delaware Oaks and Ohio Derby

As the summer racing season heats up, HorseRacing TV (TM) presents racing fans with live coverage of two major grade II stakes races July 15--the $500,000 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park and the $350,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

High Cotton After Third Straight in Ohio Derby

Peachtree Stable's High Cotton, looking for his third straight win, drew the outside post position in a field of six for Saturday's $350,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) for 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles at Thistledown.

High Cotton, Flashy Bull to Compete in Ohio Derby

High Cotton and Flashy Bull are expected to compete in this Saturday's $350,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown near Cleveland. The event is for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

Surging Palladio Captures Ohio Derby

Canadian invader Palladio unfurled a strong finishing kick to overcome favored Magna Graduate and post a one-length upset in the $350,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) Saturday at Thistledown.

Magna Graduate, Pinpoint Lead Field of Eight in Ohio Derby

A field of eight 3-year-olds is expected to contest Saturday's $350,000 Ohio Derby (gr. I), going 1 1/8 miles at Thistledown. The field is highlighted by stakes winners Magna Graduate and Pinpoint.

Magna Graduate, Pinpoint Top Ohio Derby Field

A field of five 3-year-olds is expected to contest Saturday's $350,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) as Thistledown hosts the Buckeye state's richest Thoroughbred race.

Brass Hat on Sidelines Until Fall with Ankle Injury

Ohio Derby (gr. III) winner Brass Hat will be on the sidelines until the fall following the discovery of an ankle injury believed to have been suffered during the June 12 race at Thistledown.

Brass Hat Wears Ohio Derby Crown

Fred F. Bradley's homebred Brass Hat, ridden by Willie Martinez, posted a 21-1 shocker by an easy three lengths in the $350,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown Saturday.

Pletcher Barn Favored in Ohio Derby

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out grade II stakes winners Limehouse and Pollard's Vision in Saturday's $350,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II), going 1 1/8 miles at Thistledown. Limehouse is listed as the 5-2 morning line favorite while Pollard's Vision will go off at 3-1.

Ohio Derby Race Report: Wicked Decision

Trainer Kenny McPeek is on hand to watch Wild and Wicked win the Ohio Derby in just his third career start.

Wild and Wicked is Favorite for Ohio Derby

Wild and Wicked, despite having only two lifetime starts and none in stakes company, has been installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown. Preakness runner-up Midway Road is the second choice at 8-5.

Midway Road Works Toward Ohio Derby

Preakness (gr. I) runner-up Midway Road tuned-up for a scheduled run in the Ohio Derby (gr. II) on June 21 with a strong six-furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs.

No Belmont for Midway Road; Ohio Derby Next

Trainer Neil Howard confirmed Monday that William S. Farish's Midway Road would skip the Belmont Stakes in favor of a run in the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown on June 21.

Wild and Wicked Skipping Belmont

Next week's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) lost a possible contender on Saturday when trainer Ken McPeek confirmed that R. David Randal's unbeaten Wild and Wicked would not ship to Belmont Park for the race.

Magic Weisner Leads Ohio Derby Field

Scrappy Magic Weisner, who finished a fast-charging second to War Emblem in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), leads a compact field of five in Saturday's $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown.

Ohio Derby Report: Western Streak

Riding a two-race win streak, Western Pride entered the $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II) Sept. 29 at Thistledown with his guns blazing. It was to be his biggest battle to date, facing 1-5 favorite and last year's 2-year-old juvenile male champion, Macho Uno, and four other rivals.

Two Scratched from Ohio Derby

Unbridled Time and Saratoga Games have been scratched from Saturday's Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas pulled Unbridled Time because he said he was deceived. Saratoga Games heads to Indiana Derby.

Macho Uno Heads Ohio Derby Field

After much speculation, Macho Uno, last year's 2-year-old champion, is headed to the $300,000 grade III Ohio Derby at Thistledown Saturday. He heads the field with early odds of 3-5.

Macho Uno Questionable For Ohio Derby

Last year's 2-year-old male champion Macho Uno, who was being pointed toward Saturday's $300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) at Thistledown is questionable for the race after suffering a minor bout of colic Saturday night. If he bypasses the Ohio Derby, the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) to be run one week later at Belmont Park is being considered as his next start.

Our Native Dies at 31

Our Native outlived two of his very famous contemporaries, Mr. Prospector, whom he defeated in the 1973 Calumet Purse, and Secretariat, whom he followed across the finish line in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) that year. But Our Native's age and health caught up with him on Aug. 26, when the 31-year-old stallion was euthanized at High Point Farm near Lexington.