Eight Is Enough for Ohio Derby

With a decent amount of early speed signed on, Saturday’s $500,000 Ohio Derby could set up nicely for a wait-and-sprint runner. But which one will the gamblers fall for? 

Divining Rod (Tapit) employed front-running tactics when falling just short in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Jan. 31 and when a more well-beaten third in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 7, but was given a more patient ride by Julien Leparoux next time out and ran away from ‘TDN Rising Star’ Donworth (Tiznow) to win the GIII Coolmore Lexington S. at Keeneland Apr. 11. Sent off the 12-1 fourth choice in the GI Preakness S. May 16 after deciding to skip the Derby, he looked dangerous for a stride or two nearing the stretch, but got leg-weary late and was run down by Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati) for second. With connections expressing doubts about the colt’s ability to stay the 12 furlongs of the GI Belmont S., Divining Rod resurfaces as one of the top chances in this big-money spot. 

Whiskey Ticket (Ghostzapper) has certainly made the most of his two career appearances to date and looks to remain perfect Saturday afternoon. The Watson/Weitman/Pegram runner debuted over a mile of the Santa Anita main track Mar. 19 and belied odds of 14-1 to effectively wire that field, but rallied from off the pace and just outlasted Conquest Curlinate (Curlin) to score a narrow victory in the GIII Illinois Derby in suburban Chicago Apr. 18. The runner-up has since franked the form with second-place efforts in the GII Peter Pan S. May 9 and in the Plate Trial S. June 14. He’ll take the shortest way around Thistledown here. 

War Story (Northern Afleet) had the misfortune of running into International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus) in New Orleans over the winter, finishing second in the GIII Lecomte S. and GII Risen Star S. ahead of a third-place effort in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 28. Never really in it when 16th in the Derby, the chestnut was under consideration for the GI Belmont S., but ends up in this much softer spot for owner Ron Paolucci and partners.