Two Fillies Among 37 Ohio Derby Nominees
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Two fillies and seven competitors in this year's Triple Crown series are among the 37 nominees for the 80th running of the Ohio Derby, set for July 19 at ThistleDown Racino.
At 1 1/16 miles, this year's listed Ohio Derby for 3-year-olds will be worth $300,000, triple the previous purse.
The two filly nominees are Ria Antonia and Aurelia's Belle. Ria Antonia who was awarded the victory in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) after She's a Tiger was disqualified from first. Aurelia's Belle was elevated to first in the Regret Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs upon the disqualification of A Little Bit Sassy in her most recent effort.
Among the Triple Crown veterans nominated to the Ohio Derby are Dynamic Impact, winner of the Illinois Derby (gr. III) before finishing seventh in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I); Kid Cruz, the Preakness eighth-place finisher who most recently won the Dwyer Stakes (gr. III); Vicar's in Trouble, the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner who was a troubled last of 19 in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I); and Wildcat Red, the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner who was a troubled 18th in the Kentucky Derby.
The nominees also include the respective top three finishers from the Iowa Derby (gr. III)—Jessica's Star, Embellishing Bob, and Vicar's in Trouble.