Thistledown meet highlighted by Ohio Derby

Thistledown, which hosts both the richest race and the richest card of racing in Ohio, kicks off its season Monday.

The Cleveland-area track will conduct four-day race weeks, with racing on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Thistledown’s season is anchored by the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby on June 23. The race regularly draws 3-year-olds who have become familiar on the Triple Crown trail. Last year, Blue Grass Stakes winner Irap edged Louisiana Derby winner Girvin in the first start for both since they were also-rans in the Kentucky Derby. The previous two years, Derby starters Mo Tom (2016) and Mr. Z (2015) took the Ohio Derby. Two undercard stakes will support the Ohio Derby – the $75,000 J. William Petro Memorial Handicap for Ohio-registered fillies and mares and the $75,000 George Lewis Memorial for Ohio-accredited runners.

This year, Thistledown also will host the annual Best of Ohio card, which showcases statebred runners and rotates between the state’s Thoroughbred tracks. Set for Oct. 13, the card includes the $150,000 Best of Ohio Endurance Stakes, the $150,000 Best of Ohio Distaff, the $150,000 Best of Ohio Sprint, the $150,000 Juvenile, and the $150,000 John W. Galbreath for 2-year-old fillies.

Thistledown hosts the $200,000 Lady Jacqueline for fillies and mares on Aug. 18. That card also includes the $75,000 Pay the Man Stakes for Ohio-breds.

Additional stakes include the Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial on May 5, the Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap on May 12, the Michael G. Mackey Memorial-Angenora Stakes on June 2, the Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup on June 30, the Miss Ohio on July 21, the Cleveland Kindergarten on Aug. 4, the Honey Jay on Aug. 11, the Governor’s Buckeye Cup on Aug. 25, the Scarlet and Gray Handicap on Sept. 1, the Catlaunch Stakes on Sept. 15, and, finally, both the Diana and Emerald Necklace stakes on Sept. 22. All are $75,000 stakes for Ohio-bred or Ohio-accredited runners.