Odds-on Prospective registered his third stakes win of the year when he drew clear in the final furlong to capture the $100,000 Ohio Derby (gr. III) by 2 1/2 lengths at Thistledown July 7 (VIDEO).
A son of Malibu Moon out of the Awesome Again mare Spirited Away, Prospective was ridden to victory by Jermaine Bridgmohan for trainer Mark Casse and owner John Oxley. Spendthrift Farm bred the dark bay colt, a $250,000 Fasig-Tipton New York 2010 select yearling, in Kentucky.
"Prospective is a fighter," Casse said. "Once he gets a clear path, he goes on."
Sent off at odds of 3-5 against only three sophomore opponents, Prospective tracked the leaders into the stretch in third and took the lead under energetic handling from Bridgmohan approaching the eighth pole. Prospective pulled away to win in a good time of 1:42.84 for the 1 1/16-mile distance over a fast track.
"I think the race was won in the first turn, when Jermaine got the horse out," Casse said. "It looked like the horse to the outside (Z Rockstar) was going to push him down inside, but Jermaine didn't let that happen. He pushed his way out on the first turn and I think that was the difference. He didn't let him get caught down inside."
Politicallycorrect, ridden by Victor Santiago, battled on the front end and was a clear second by 8 3/4 lengths over pace rival Z Rockstar and Channing Hill. Quarter-mile fractions for the opening six furlongs were :23.82, :48.62, and 1:12.44. Defiant Flyer trailed throughout.
Prospective added the Ohio Derby to victories earlier this year in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) in Florida and the restricted Victoria Park Stakes at Woodbine in his most recent start on Polytrack June 10. Prospective ran 18th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). He is 4-for-7 so far in 2012.
Last year, Prospective won the Grey Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine prior to finishing 13th in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
Prospective, whose career record stands at 11-6-2 with earnings of $600,235, returned $3.20 and $2.10. Politicallycorrect, trained by Wesley Ward, paid $2.40 and completed a $4.40 exacta. There was no show wagering.
Swage scratched.