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.

High Cotton, owned by Peachtree Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher, has won his last two starts--the Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs, and the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

Flashy Bull, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, finished fourth in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), and was unplaced in the Florida Derby (gr. I), all at Gulfstream Park, before an off-the-board finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) at Churchill.

Flashy Bull is a local horse of sorts in that two of his owners--brothers John and Ken Fasola, live in the Cleveland area.

Tri Uimet, who won the $100,000 Cleveland Gold Cup for Ohio-breds in his most recent start, is considered possible for the Ohio Derby. Owned by Gerald Silver and trained by Jeff Radosevich, Tri Uimet has five wins in nine starts thus far.

The racing office was awaiting word from the connections of other potential starters in the marquee race at the track owned by Magna Entertainment Corp.

First post for the Ohio Derby program is 1:05 p.m. EDT, with the feature set for 5:45 p.m. The card includes three other stakes--the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes for Ohio-registered 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles; the $50,000 Isi Newborn Memorial for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs; and the $50,000 Scarlet Carnation Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, at six furlongs.