What’s Happening This Week In Ohio

Race #1 – 5K Claiming – 1 Mile Fast Dirt

Dropkick The Cow (99158) is dropping down in class from the 7.5K range and stretching it back out to a mile where she has had her best speed ratings.  She is the M/L favorite at 5/2.  True Hollywood (79678) is also dropping in class considerably.  At 7/2 this mare would be no surprise to jump ahead of this lower class of competition.  The longshot for this rave would have to be Thou Shall Not (129616).  This mare comes in at 6/1 but is coming off a 5 race turf trial and comes home back to dirt.  She, in five races, has a win and a place under her belt. 

Race # 2 – MSW – 6 Furlongs On Firm Turf

A MSW for the 2yo ladies.  Bluegrass Alycat (142958) with her second race and first attempt on grass has the pedigree but can she live up to that.  The morning line favorite at 3/1 has some competition at 9/2 with Auror Dreams (141548).  Also making her first run on turf she has two races under her belt in which she did not perform up to the odds makers.  The next best offer her is Mamateste (142182). Her second race is also her second race on turf.  With a second place finish, by a nose, in her last effort I see a potential medium shot here at 5/1.

Race #3 – Claiming 3.5K – 1 Mile 1/16 On Fast Dirt

Long For A Reason (88139) 2/1 and Naw’s Christie (91583) 7/2 are the only two plays in this race.  At 7/1 Lust For Chips (40288) is making a huge drop in class to her lowest claim tag. Possible longshot here.

Race # 4 – MSW – 6 Furlongs On Fast Dirt

Another MSW for the 2yo ladies.  Triple Sevens (144241) in her debut race comes in near even money at 9/5.  Her closest competition is Natburg (31061) at 4/1 is in her 3^rd race with a place and a show under her belt.  Can the experience overcome the breeding?

Race #5 – Claiming 4k – 1 Mile ½ On Fast Dirt

Northern Passer (99524) in a short field of 7 horses is the huge favorite at 9/5 with Ida B. Wells (93758) and Hurricane Again (56079) at 5/2 and 7/2 respectively. 

Race #6 – Claiming 5K – 1 Mile 3/16 On Firm Turf

Aydans Dream (364) coming off a win in her last race, her debut on grass, at 5/1 is not the oddsmakers favorite but should be considered right there.  Stormy Lass (121318) a veteran now with 7 races on turf finishing all of them in 4^th or better with two of them being wins.  She comes in the favorite at 5/2 and can you blame them.

Race #7 – MSW – 6 ½ Furlong On Fast Dirt

A MSW for all 3yo.  Sadler’s For Niner (40975) at 3/1 in his 9^th race is still looking for the Maiden.  He has the pedigree (Sadler’s Well x Forty Niner x Storm Bird) but can he hold off Wilbur Worm (15678) at 9/2. 

Race #8 – ALW – 1 Mile ¾ On Firm Turf

A gamblers nightmare. A nine horse field with four horses who could find themselves in victory lane.  Point Break (59132), the favorite at 9/5,  in just her 2^nd turf race finished 2^nd last time out in her turf debut.  With Apprehended (49621), a turf veteran, and Sing A Song (60021), returning to her grass roots, at 4/1 and Aurora Nova T (101608), another turf vet at 9/2, this just might be a very interesting field.  At 5/1 we can’t forget Jen’s Guitar (60779) who is coming back to turf as well after a long stay on dirt.

Race #9 –  ALW – 1 Mile On Fast Dirt

If race 8 was a nightmare this is a lifetime of horror.  A 14 horse field with 9 horses with odds ranging from 6/1 to 10/1.  A race not worth handicapping.  Dark Hall (124856) and Bayakoan (25167) lead this gaggle of horses at 6/1.  Good Luck.

Race 10 – The Light Light Bonanza – Stakes – 1 Mile ¼ On Fast Dirt.

A four horse Stakes race the Bonanza should still be very competitive.  Red Apple Express coming off two graded races in which she has a 7^th place finish along with a show.  The M/L favorite at 4/5 she will be looking to hold off Willpower (594490.  This mare has won her last 3 races with 2 of them being Stakes.  Do not count her out as she comes in 9/5.  The race appears to be a two horse race but Dance The Breeze (64504), 7/2, who has struggled of late, hopes to turn things around. Rounding it out is Sanibel Island (129793) at 5/1.

Race 11 – MSW – 7 ½ Furlongs On Fast Dirt

The unquestioned favorite at 7/5 is Unprohibited (84994).  This is the guarantee lock of the week here in Ohio.  If you don’t gamble and want to start bet it here on number 7 to win.  The other horses appear to not be in the same class here.

Race 12 – Claiming 15K –  Seven Furlongs On Fast Dirt

Ragtime Dance (8299) at 7/2 looks very nice in this 15^th race in the dirt.  She has been in the money in 7 of her last 14.  Confucius Dog T (101204) is stepping up in class here from 10K and is in at 5/1 which leads one to think what the odds makers are smoking.  Hot Ziggity (98629) at 8/1 looks like a good buy in this field.  Stepping down from Starter 25K races, this might be the race to win.

Race 13 – MSW – 7 ½ Furlongs On Fast Dirt

A five horse field of 4yo and up.  Bored Cow (84108) finishing second in his last attempt is poised to break through and get that coveted Maiden.  At 2/1 El Football (37335) might have something to say about it.  However, Civfly’s Niner (97836) looks to be a better contender and may give ole Bored Cow a run for his money.

Race 14 – ALW – 7 ½ Furlongs On Fast Dirt

A low value horse race for 5yo and up.  You can never tell which horse might limp across the line first.  Stay away from this race.  Asqueroso (58989) and Taptitude (7948) lead this bunch at 6/1.  This is a wide open race and Tub Run Hollow (48231) at 35/1 is still got a chance.

Race 15 – Buckeye Derby – Grade II Stakes Race – 1 mile 1/8 On Fast Dirt

Aly Nine (126474) is no stranger in Graded Stakes running in 5 of her 11 race carreer.  Finishing 4^th in his last race a G2 at this distance with an impressive 105 SR he is looking to win his first graded stakes race.  He comes in at 9/2 along with Nagasaki (38577) who is also no stranger to the graded stakes.  Getting two wins back in April in two G2 races really beefs up this colts resume.  His last G2 race back in May was a third place finish with an even more impressive 109 SR.  Do not count out Be Auror Song (124931) who also has some graded wins under his belt.  The last one coming May 26^th in a G2 race as well.  My pick for this race,  if of course Nagasaki struggles, is Lucky’s Capital (115083), 9/1, a winner of four consecutive stakes/graded races from January 20th through March 10^th, he is coming back from back to back G1 races where he did not finish too strong.  He is not only coming down in class but going back to a preferred distance.  Well Played Ted (39892) is running in his third G2 race with the best finish of fourth is probably not competing here, although he comes in at 9/1 as well. HighAsAKight(67402) with no graded or stakes wins comes in at 10/1, which is baffaling, along with Achaemenes (126235) who has some nice wins in a Street Sense kind of way.  This horse may contend late if the pace is slow.  The rest of the field is outclassed and there doesn’t appear to be any Giacomo type horses out there.

Race 16 – ALW – 6 ½ Furlongs On Fast Dirt

A six horse field with everyone chasing Ruckus Phone (40638).  As the M/L favorite at 8/5 he stands to be the horse to beat.  At 5/2 my money however is going to be on Chafing Tiger (46983) who is three years younger and has performed better than his opposition.