Top statebreds clash in Babst/Palacios Memorial Handicap

Belterra Park launches its stakes schedule on Saturday with a clash between statebred champion Rivers Run Deep and multiple stakes winner Cake Pop in the $75,000 Edward Babst/Albert Palacios Memorial Handicap.

The two bookend the field of six going six furlongs in the stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds and up. Cake Pop, who was installed at 7-2 on the morning line, drew the rail under Marcelino Pedroza for trainer Michael Lauer. Rivers Run Deep, who landed outside under Perry Ouzts, was made the 4-5 favorite for trainer Chris Hartman.

Both of whom acquitted themselves well against open company in their season debuts.

Cake Pop made 12 starts last year in a productive 3-year-old campaign, and was a stakes winner both sprinting and routing, taking the Tall Stack Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs and the Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup at 1 1/8 miles. He finished second to Ohio-bred horse of the year Mo Dont No in the Best of Ohio Endurance Stakes, and finished the season by checking in third against open company 3-year-olds in the Steel Valley Sprint.

Cake Pop kicked off his 2018 campaign by finishing third, beaten less than a length, in an optional-claiming event going six furlongs in the slop at Oaklawn Park. He now returns to Belterra, where he is 3-1-0 from four career starts on the main track. On Saturday, he is assigned to carry 119 pounds to Rivers Run Deep’s 128.

Millionaire and champion statebred sprinter Rivers Run Deep is seeking his fourth straight win in the Babst/Palacios Memorial. He defeated Mo Dont No by six lengths in last year’s renewal. Rivers Run Deep was upset by a nose by Hijo de Sheltowee last October in his bid for a fourth consecutive victory in the Best of Ohio Sprint. He proceeded to finish third to Mo Dont No and Altissimo – who is back for the Babst/Palacios – in the Cardinal Handicap. Rivers Run Deep, now 7, began this season by winning an optional-claiming event at Oaklawn in March.