Rivers Run Deep rolling into Cardinal Handicap

The penultimate stakes race of the 2014 ThistleDown season will be contested Saturday with the first running of the $50,000 Cardinal Handicap. A field of eight older Ohio-bred horses will contest the six-furlong race. The final stakes race of the meet will be the Ohio Debutante for older accredited fillies and mares next Saturday. Closing day is Nov. 16.

Key contenders

Rivers Run Deep (Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-70)

* The 3-year-old colt has won four of five since facing statebred company May 8. His last win was Oct. 11 in the $150,000 Best of Ohio Sprint by 5 1/4 lengths at Belterra Park. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91, the highest last-race figure in this field. It also ties for the highest lifetime figure.

* Won only one race last year, his maiden race at Del Mar, but has won 4 of 9 this year.

* Has been in the money in all seven starts at this distance.

* He will be giving between four and 10 pounds to his seven rivals.

Diavoletto (Last 3 Beyers: 77-76-74)

* Finished second to Rivers Run Deep last out after overcoming trouble on the backstretch. He is winless in six starts this year but won 4 of 5 last year and was named Ohio’s champion sprinter of 2013.

Quasi Folle (Last 3 Beyers: 1-84-44)

* He has a first and a second in two local starts for trainer Mike Rone, who also trains Diavoletto. He has won 4 of 10 lifetime.

Pyrite Green (Last 3 Beyers: 81-72-72)

* Has not been off the board in nine local starts, with four wins. Trained by Miguel Feliciano, he will be ridden by Ricky Feliciano. Over the last two years, that trainer-jockey combo is winning at a 27 percent rate locally in 94 attempts.