By Alan Carasso
Rupp Racing's Owendale (Into Mischief) continued his rich vein of form, rallying from last to peg back a game Math Wizard (Algorithms) and scoop the $300,000 first prize in Saturday's GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy), upset winner earlier this year in a division of the GII Rebel S., raced wide throughout and finished a distant third.
Owendale was immediately out the back door and raced in tandem with Math Wizard under the line for the first time as the undefeated and untested Ohio-bred Dare Day (Can the Man) set a strong pace up front. Patiently handled by Florent Geroux while still content to caboose the field while well off the rail on the backstretch, Owendale quietly crept into contention and was on the heels of the leading quartet as the quarter pole loomed.
Math Wizard, switched off the fence and into the two path by Edgard Zayas, grabbed command outside of the tiring Dare Day at the entry to the lane, but Owendale was now in full flight, split horses and had slightly the better finish in the final 100 yards. Long Range Toddy, four deep and under urging at the quarter pole, kept on while no menace to the top two.
“It worked out good,” said Geroux. “There was a lot of pace to run at today and I just sat back like he likes to do. I was able to squeeze by from the inside and get some room and he got the job done. He's a horse who likes to sit back and make one run.”
Winner of a salty Fair Grounds allowance Jan. 17, Owendale could do no better than eighth to War of Will (War Front) in the GII Risen Star S., effectively derailing any Derby dreams. The $200,000 Keeneland September yearling belied odds of 12-1 to defeat the talented Anothertwistafate (Scat Daddy) in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. Apr. 13 and most recently closed well to round out the trifecta behind War of Will in the GI Preakness S. May 18.
Pedigree Notes:
One of 23 graded winners for his very successful sire, Owendale is out of an unraced daughter of GSW Zenith (Roy), dam of GISW Great Hunter (Aptitude) and the stakes-placed Glitzen Glory (Honour and Glory). Owendale's third dam Sequins accounted for MSW & GSP Im Out First (Allen's Prospect), who became the dam of MSW & GSP Im A Dixie Girl (Dixie Union). Zenith's half-sister Evening Star (Malibu Moon) produced Eclipse Award winner and six-time GISW Stellar Wind (Curlin), the $6-million topper at Keeneland November in 2017. Aspen Light was purchased by Korean interests for $25,000 at KEENOV in 2017 and produced a colt by Kantharos last Feb. 26. She was most recently covered by With Distinction.
Saturday, Thistledown
OHIO DERBY-GIII, $500,000, Thistledown, 6-22, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.88, ft.
1–OWENDALE, 122, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Aspen Light, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Zenith, by Roy
3rd Dam: Sequins, by Northern Fashion
($200,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Rupp Racing; B-Stonestreet
Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent
Geroux. $300,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 10-4-1-2, $668,725.
Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Math Wizard, 120, c, 3, Algorithms–Minister's Baby, by
Deputy Minister. O-John Fanelli, Collarmele Vitelli Stables LLC,
Bassett Stables, Ioannis Zoumas, Wynwood Thoroughbreds &
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; B-Lucky Seven Stable (KY); T-Saffie A.
Joseph, Jr. $100,000.
3–Long Range Toddy, 124, c, 3, Take Charge Indy–Pleasant
Song, by Unbridled's Song. O/B-Willis Horton Racing LLC (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen. $50,000.
Margins: HF, 9 1/4, 13 3/4. Odds: 0.70, 5.50, 2.10.
Also Ran: Bethlehem Road, Dare Day, Going for Gold. Scratched: Global Campaign.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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