Ohio Derby News

It’s The $350,000 (G2) Ohio Derby This Saturday!
The 72nd running of the $350,000 (G2) Ohio Derby is Saturday! Doors open at 11:30 a.m., first post is 1:05 p.m. and post time for the Ohio Derby race is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Derby Day also features three additional stakes events: the $50,000 Isi Newborn Memorial, the $50,000 Scarlet Carnation and the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial.

Ohio Derby News:
Joseph Lacombe, owner of Deputy Glitters, is no stranger to Ohio. He spends his time in Cincinnati, Ohio as well as Palm Beach, Florida. Lacombe has been to Thistledown numerous times and ran Medievil Hero in the 1999 Ohio Derby (he finished 8th). Lacombe says he is looking forward to returning for this Saturday’s richest race in Ohio. “We wouldn’t enter him if we thought he couldn’t win,” says Lacombe. “He’s a versatile horse.” Lacombe also owned Favorite Trick, 1997 Horse of the Year.

Sacred Light arrived at Thistledown Thursday night around 7:45 p.m. from Belmont Park with assistant trainer Brent Fabbri. Sacred Light finished third in the Grade 3 Sham, second in the Grade 2 Santa Catalina and fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park; he also ran in the Belmont Stakes.

Fabbri says his three-year-old has changed a lot since his last race. “We gelded him after the Belmont. He was very study and really bad. Now he is just playful.”

Fabbri says the Ohio Derby is the perfect spot for Sacred Light. “It looks like there is a lot of speed in this race so it should set up perfect for us. He likes to sit behind and make a run. It should be a competitive, tough race.”

Sacred Light is trained by David Hofmans for Amerman Racing Stables LLC. Jockey Aaron Gryder has the mount.

Thistledown’s leading rider, Scott Spieth has the mount on Ohio-bred Tri Uimet in the Ohio Derby. Last year, Spieth finished third in the Ohio Derby with Its Time To Smile and he also competed in the 2000 edition with Miami Blasé. Spieth, who has been aboard seven of Tri Uimet’s nine starts, has confidence in his mount for the Derby but says it will be a tough race.

“Tri Uimet is a big horse; he can carry the weight and handle the distance but this race is a big step for him.”

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