Field shapes up for Ohio Derby, now in July

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - The Grade 2, $300,000 Ohio Derby has been moved back to its traditional mid-July date after being run on Sept. 29 last year. The Ohio Derby drew only six starters last year, prompting it to be moved to July 20 this year.

Four trainers have told director of racing Bill Couch that they are shipping in a horse for the 1 1/8-mile Ohio Derby. The horses are Magic Weisner (trained by Nancy Alberts), Wiseman's Ferry (Niall O'Callaghan), The Judge Sez Who (Martin Wolfson), and Grey Beard (Emilie Fojan). Running Tide, who is unbeaten in five starts, will ship in from the East Coast, said his trainer, Rodney Jenkins.

Magic Weisner finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length by War Emblem, in the Preakness and then finished fourth in the Belmont. Magic Weisner has a career record of 6-3-0 from 12 starts, including four stakes wins, and has earned $493,110.

Wiseman's Ferry also ran in the Belmont, finishing ninth. Before the Belmont, Wiseman's Ferry was a front-running winner of the Grade 3 Lone Star Derby. He has a lifetime record of 3-1-2 from 10 outings and has earned $364,818.

The Judge Sez Who won the $40,000 Migrating Moon Stakes on July 5 at Calder. On Jan. 1, he finished second in the Tropical Park Derby at Calder.

Grey Beard has won two of seven starts and has earnings of $63,395.