River Downs: Millennium in the Horizon

Dinkers Millennium, third in the Cleveland Gold Cup in his most recent start, could be a slight favorite in the $50,000 Horizon Stakes at River Downs. The Horizon, for 3-year-old Ohio-breds, will be run at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Finding who has the class and best current form may be the best way to finding the Horizon winner as none of the entrants have turf experience, and few have turf pedigrees.

Dinkers Millennium, who captured two allowances rather easily before the Cleveland Gold Cup, is a grandson of Miswaki and may appreciate the surface switch more than others. Timberquik, a descendant of two European champions, was a nonthreatening fifth in the Cleveland Gold Cup, but has improved overall this year and might also like the switch to turf.

Other contenders include Count on My Word and Nate's Rib. Count on My Word captured the Rollin on Over Stakes at Beulah earlier this year, earning a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, but has struggled against allowance foes lately.

Nate's Rib, second to Count on My Word in the Rollin on Over, finished ahead of him in a June 25 allowance, but was unplaced in two previous route attempts.