Ruberto has two for Rowland Memorial Handicap

There are five stakes winners in the eight-horse field for Saturday’s $75,000 Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap for Ohio-accredited sprinters going six furlongs at Thistledown. Two of those are saddled by trainer Louis Ruberto, including the two-time defending winner of this race.

Buckeye Bullet won both of his starts in 2018 and has won seven of his last eight dating to December 2016. However, his most recent start came when he scored his repeat victory in the Rowland Memorial last May.

Meanwhile, stablemate Midnight Mikey, a stakes-winning juvenile in 2017, tangled with some of the state’s heavyweights last fall. He finished third in the Cardinal Handicap to leading sprinter Altissimo and two-time statebred champion Mo Dont No, then won an allowance in November in his most recent outing.

Marco Ccamaque has the mount on Buckeye Bullet, the 5-2 favorite on the morning line despite his layoff. Luis Quinones will ride Midnight Mikey.

Last year, Mobil Solution won the Horizon Stakes at Belterra Park and the Catlaunch Stakes at Thistledown and finished worse than second only once in eight starts. He finished second in both the Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial and Buckeye Native stakes to standout mares Leona’s Reward and True Cinder, and second in the George Lewis Memorial to Eightthehardway, whom he faces again Saturday.

Eightthehardway, making his first start since November, has won four stakes, placed in seven others, and has $426,988 in career earnings. The field also includes stakes winner Buster’s Boy and stakes-placed Funnel Cake, along with Direct Deceit and Cielo Lindo.