Two top Ohio-breds meet again in George Lewis Stakes

Two of the top Ohio-bred handicap horses will go after each other once again at Thistledown in the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes.

Catlaunch and Acts Like a King have taken turns beating each other in a number of stakes over the past two seasons and once again appear to be the horses to beat, although there are several other horses in the seven-horse field capable of winning the 1 1/8-mile Lewis.

Catlaunch is a consistent 7-year-old who has a 23-10-7 record from 59 starts and earnings of $490,236. He has won 3 of his 4 starts this year, including two stakes, but must rebound from a bad performance in his last start, when he stopped badly in the 1 1/16-mile Gendelman Stakes at River Downs.

Acts Like a King won the Gendelman by six lengths. Catlaunch likes to run on the lead and should be the pacesetter in here. Ivan Gonzalez will ride for trainer Ivan Vazquez.

Acts Like a King came out in midseason form for trainer Kris Nemann in the Gendelman, in his first start since Dec. 15. He has two bullet works at River Downs since. Nathan Solomon has the mount.

Among the others, Smarmy, Head to Toe, and Ramblin Mike appear to have the best chances of upsetting.