By US Racing Team
Fan favorite Two Phil’s, unraced since his game runner-up finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1), returns to action Saturday as the 8-5 favorite in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.
The Hard Spun colt will face seven other 3-year-olds in the 1 ⅛-mile race, including Bishops Bay, beaten a head by subsequent Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Arcangelo in the Peter Pan (G3) on May 13. Also in the field is Wood Memorial (G2) winner Lord Miles, and Hayes Strike, winner of two of four starts this year, including the Texas Derby on May 29.
Two Phil’s has been training forwardly at Larry Rivelli’s base at Hawthorne, and the trainer said he could not be happier with the chestnut’s progress since the Run for the Roses, in which he was overtaken late by 15-1 shot Mage to lose by a length.
“He’s been training just as good as he was going into the Derby,” said Rivelli. “Very happy with the way he came out of that race.
If all goes well, the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 22 and the Travers (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 26 would be under consideration.
Regular jockey Jareth Loveberry, who was set to ride, has handed the reinsman’s duties to Gerardo Corrales.
Bishops Bay will be making just his fourth lifetime start in the Ohio Derby, having broken his maiden at the Fair Grounds in February (and giving trainer Brad Cox his 2,000th career win in the process) and then taking an optional claimer at 1 mile, 70 yards a month later. His form was flattered coming out of the Peter Pan when Arcangelo returned to win the 1 ½-mile Belmont.
Florent Geroux will ride the 3-1 second choice.
Lord Miles, 60-1 winner of the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack on April 23, is making his first start since then for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Edgard Zayas will be aboard Lord Miles, 7-2. Lord Miles was entered into the Derby but was ruled ineligible days before when Joseph as suspended by Churchill Downs following the unexplained death of several of his horses during training.
Henry Q, third in the Peter Pan in his first start for trainer Doug O’Neill, drew the rail and is 5-1 under Kendrick Carmouche
Unlike many of his more lightly raced counterparts, Lord Hayes will be making his 12th career start here, having fashioned a 3-1-1 record for trainer Ken McPeek and owner-breeder Dixiana Stables. He is listed at 6-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Cristian Torrez.
Making their stakes debuts in the Ohio Derby are Timesatappin (30-1), Agnello’s Dream (20-1) and Last Cookie (30-1).
The picks: Two Phil’s, Bishops Bay, Lord Hayes
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
