Beulah: Count on My Word looks best

Defending champion Count on My Word is the 122-pound highweight in a field of eight Ohio-accredited colts and geldings in $40,000 Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Handicap at Beulah Park.

Count on My Word, a 6-year-old gelded son of Full Count trained by Bobby Ranwick Jr., is the most accomplished member of the field in terms of both wins (seven) and earnings ($152,160). Count on My Word enters the 1 1/4-mile Ruff/Kirchberg off his first victory of the season, a half-length score in open allowance company at Thistledown on Oct. 19.

Before his last race, Count on My word finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the $75,000 Best of Ohio Endurance at 1 1/4 miles at Beulah on Oct. 1. Count on My Word does his best running from off the pace and excels at Beulah, having won 5 of his 8 starts and never missing the board there.

Ernest Oro has a return call aboard Count on My Word, who concedes from 2 to 11 pounds to his seven rivals in the Ruff/Kirchberg.

Go Johnny Go looks like the main danger. A winner of 4 of 9 starts, Go Johnny Go ran the best race of his career here two back, making the pace in the Best of Ohio Endurance before being caught at the wire, finishing second, beaten a neck.

Trainer Mike Nance has named Scott Spieth to ride at 120 pounds.