Z Fortune and Smooth Air lead Ohio Derby
Smooth Air drew the rail and was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $300,000 Ohio Derby Saturday, but he will meet some pretty stiff competition, namely, graded stakes winner Z Fortune.
Eight will go to the post in the nine-furlong Ohio Derby, which is the centerpiece of Thistledown’s 122-day season.
Smooth Air is 3-2-2 from eight career starts, including a one-length victory in the seven-furlong Hutcheson Jan. 5 at Gulfstream Park. The son of Smooth Jazz was also runner-up to Big Brown in the March 29 Florida Derby. Most recently, the bay colt was 11th in the Kentucky Derby.
Smooth Air checked in one running position and about two lengths behind Z Fortune in the Derby, but where Z Fortune had a fairly clean run, Smooth Air broke in the air and was steadied. The in-race trouble followed a prerace minor illness that cost Smooth Air training time leading into the Derby.
Z Fortune was a sharp winner of the Lecomte at Fair Grounds, a good second behind Pyro in the Louisiana Derby, and a good second to Gayego in the Arkansas Derby. But sandwiched between those starts was a fifth place in the Rebel.
$300,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II, Race 9, 5:27 p.m.), Three-Year-Olds, 1 1/8 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Smooth Air (FL), 117, Manoel Cruz
2. Medjool (KY), 115, Jose Caraballo
3. Your Round (KY), 115, Miguel Mena
4. Instill (IL), 117, Danush Sukie
5. Stolen Chevy (KY), 115, Rex A. Stokes III
6. Celtic Meal (FL), 115, Andrew Ramgeet
7. Z Fortune (NY), 117, Garrett Gomez
8. Cherokee Artist (KY), 115, Jeremy Rose
