Weekend Warrior for Saturday, June 22, 2019: Picks for Philip H. Iselin, Ohio Derby, Lady's Secret

Triple Crown season has come and gone, but the derby action continues Saturday with the Ohio Derby, in which Owendale is likely to go off a heavy favorite. Based on his price and running style, I’m looking to take a shot against him. Farther east, Monmouth Park features the only Grade 1 race of the weekend in the United Nations, but I’m more interested in the two dirt stakes bookending the U.N., the Philip Iselin and the Lady’s Secret.

Philip Iselin Stakes

After a disastrous start in the Salvator Mile last month, BAL HARBOUR proceeded to run a very impressive race, putting in a sustained bid before understandably tiring late to finish third. Bal Harbour has never been the most alert gate horse, but it’s hard to imagine him getting a worse start than he did in that May 25 race. This son of First Samurai has the ability to sit closer to the pace, and he stacks up nicely against this group traveling the 1 1/16-mile trip.

With the presence of DIAMOND KING and this year’s Charles Town Classic winner RUNNIN’TOLUVYA, perhaps Bal Harbour sneaks away at a playable price, somewhere in the 3-1 range.

Ohio Derby

The scratch of likely second choice GLOBAL CAMPAIGN leaves OWENDALE as the prohibitive favorite in the Ohio Derby. Owendale ran very well given his wide trip in the Preakness last month, but he did have swift fractions to close into. The pace Saturday looks honest, but I’m not convinced it’s going to come apart at the seams. Accordingly, I’m looking for a horse with a pace-pressing style.

LONG RANGE TODDY encountered some difficulty on a sloppy track in the Kentucky Derby, and he appears to be a much better horse on a fast main track. The weather in Cleveland looks dry Friday into Saturday, so Long Range Toddy should get the conditions he most certainly desires.

A replica of his victory against Improbable three starts back in the Rebel at Oaklawn (over a fast main track) makes him a prime contender Saturday, especially since he’s likely to get the jump on the horse to beat, Owendale.

Lady’s Secret Stakes

I like Todd Pletcher’s chances in the Philip Iselin earlier on the card at Monmouth Park, and I like his chances in the card’s last stakes race, the Lady’s Secret. ALBEROBELLO defeated only two horses in her 4-year-old debut at Belmont Park on May 2, but won in nice fashion.

A daughter of Bernardini, Alberobello had her ears pricked throughout that win, never looking like a loser. The waters obviously get deeper against stakes company Saturday, but the outside draw should be to her advantage in a race that appears rather paceless.

Luis Saez is scheduled to ride Alberobello, and he’ll have the ability to either sit just off a horse like COFFEE CRUSH, who is trying dirt for the first time, or take the initiative and go straight to the front. Either way, Alberobello is likely to be among the shorter-priced contenders and should is a likely winner.