Mo Dont No returns to favored distance in Buckeye Cup

Last year, two-time Ohio horse of the year Mo Dont No rolled into the $75,000 Governor’s Buckeye Cup as the favorite and led all the way for a dominant repeat victory. This year, Mo Dont No has just one win from five starts – and last time out was defeated by the streaking Altissimo, who has seized control among Ohio-bred older males. The two get a rematch in Saturday’s renewal of the Buckeye Cup at Thistledown, for which Altissimo is the morning line favorite.

Altissimo has won four straight races, three of those in stakes, for trainer Richard Zielinski. Two weeks ago, the gelding wired a field that included Mo Dont No and fellow Ohio-bred champion Rivers Run Deep for a 3 3/4-length victory in the Honey Jay Stakes going six furlongs at Thistledown.

If Mo Dont No, who drew post 5 with Scott Spieth in the irons for trainer Jeff Radosevich, has an advantage in this rematch, it is his affinity for the 1 1/4-mile Buckeye Cup distance. He is a perfect 4 for 4 at the route, including two victories in the Best of Ohio Endurance Stakes on the state’s showcase program. Altissimo, a front-runner who drew post 3 under Christian Pilares, has yet to race this far. He has won at up to 1 1/16 miles during his current win streak.

Multiple stakes winner Eightthehardway has finished second to Mo Dont No in the last two editions of the Buckeye Cup. Forewarned won this year’s Cleveland Gold Cup. Let’scalliteven and Mobil At Last round out the field of six.