All eyes are likely to be set on Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Two Phil's when a field of eight 3-year-olds head to the JACK Thistledown surface June 24 for the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) going 1 1/8-miles over the main track.
Following the son of Hard Spun 's valiant effort behind Mage in the May 6 Run for the Roses, he has taken some time to reset at trainer Larry Rivelli's Hawthorne Race Course base, including opting out of both the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1) and June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1).
Both Rivelli and the ownership group, which consists of Patricia's Hope, Phillip Sagan, and Madaket Stables, have kept the Ohio Derby as the target for the past several weeks. Rivelli says the colt has been training well and he is feeling positive ahead of Saturday.
"He's doing good. We've planned for this race as a comeback race for the Derby," Rivelli said. "We haven't had any hiccups, he's been training really good, just as good as he was going into the Derby. We are pretty happy with the way things are.
"I think we're number four of eight (in post position) so we're happy with that. If everything goes well he'll make a good showing and we'll move onto the next, probably the Haskell and the Travers. That's our goal for the rest of the year."
The flashy 3-year-old chestnut colt has already earned well over $1 million from his nine starts, which include two wins in graded company in the 2022 Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park earlier this year.
Jockey Jareth Loveberry, who took his first trip in the Kentucky Derby aboard the colt this year, will retain the mount for the Ohio Derby.
Returning from nearly 2 1/2 months off is Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee Lord Miles . The son of Curlin captured the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) April 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack and pursued a start in the Kentucky Derby until the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission forced the scratch of all of the trainer's horses May 4 following the unexplained sudden death of two racehorses in his care prior to the Derby.
A homebred campaigned by Vegso Racing Stable, Lord Miles is lightly raced having only five starts under his belt—though three of them were in graded company—including a sixth in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and a fifth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3).
Last out winner of the Texas Derby, Hayes Strike will seek his first graded win in the Ohio Derby. His closest attempt was a second behind Two Phil's in the Street Sense last October, along with a third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) a month later. The Kenny McPeek trainee by Connect is a homebred for Dixiana Farms.
Also entered is May 13 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) runner-up Bishops Bay who is 2-1-0 from three starts. The Uncle Mo colt out of grade 1-placed stakes winner Catch My Drift is trained by Brad Cox. Stakes winner Henry Q , by Blame , also seeks his first graded win after placing twice in both the Sunland Park Derby (G3) and Peter Pan.
Completing the field is Timesatappin , Agnello's Dream , and Last Cookie .