Anyone going to play this one on Saturday?

Whiskey Ticket B. Baffert Definite
Divining Rod A. Delacour Possible
Cross The Line J. Hollendorfer Probable
Tencendur G. Weaver Probable
Bodhisattva J. Corrales Probable
Mr. Z D. Lukas Probable
Far Right R. Moquett Probable
War Story T. Amoss Probable

Far Right closes for the win

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Good pick. I like this race. There should be good odds, since there is no favorite.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer about 5 hrs. ago.

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio – Lightly-raced Whiskey Ticket from Triple Crown trainer Bob Baffert's powerhouse stable drew the rail post position and was tabbed the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Ohio Derby at ThistleDown Racino.

Whiskey Ticket has only made a pair of starts this season – and in his career - but the Ghostzapper colt's last outing was a nose victory in the $400,000 Illinois Derby on April 18. Baffert is riding high after saddling American Pharoah for his victorious Triple Crown adventure this year, the first three-year-old to win the crown since Affirmed in 1978.

Divining Rod, finishing third to American Pharoah in the Preakness Stakes, is the 7-2 second choice, followed by 9-2 Far Right, who finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby. Local favorite War Story, owned by Ron Paolucci of Stow, Ohio, and Mr. Z from the stable of D. Wayne Lukas, are listed at 6-1. Mr. Z was fifth in the Preakness and 13th in the Kentucky Derby.

Wrapping up the field, and the morning line odds, are Bodhisattva and Thirtysilverpieces (12-1) and Dekabrist (15-1).

ThistleDown oddsmaker Pat Lynch admitted it was a little risky to make Whiskey Ticket the favorite.

"You have to look at Whiskey Ticket's strong finish in the Illinois Derby, and that he's the best one of the five horses nominated by Baffert," said Lynch. "I think Whiskey Ticket will be the public favorite."

Baffert isn't expected to be at ThistleDown on Saturday. Racing Secretary Patrick Ellsworth said that Hall of Fame trainer Lukas has shown interest in coming to the Ohio Derby. Lukas-trained horses have won the Kentucky Derby four times, six Preakness Stakes and four Belmont Stakes.

The 81st Ohio Derby

What: A 1-1/16-mile race for three-year-old thoroughbreds.

Where: ThistleDown Racino, 21501 Emery Rd., North Randall, Ohio.

When: Saturday's Ohio Derby will come out of the starting gate at approximately 4:25 p.m. It is the eighth race on a nine-race program. First race post time is 12:55 p.m.

Race history: Bombay won the first Ohio Derby in 1876. After a hiatus of 41 years, it returned with Kentucky Derby winner Black Gold capturing the Ohio crown. East Hall scored an 8-1 upset a year ago by a head with Juan Leyva in the saddle.

Post, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds

1. Whiskey Ticket, Martin Pedroza, Bob Baffert, 3-1

2. Far Right, Ricardo Santana Jr., Ron Moquett, 9-2

3. Thirtysilverpieces, Luis A. Gonzalez, Kenneth Marshall, 12-1

4. Divining Rod, Julian Leparoux, Arnaud Delacour, 7-2

5. War Story, Kent Desormeaux, Tom Amoss, 6-1

6. Tencendur, Manuel Frankel, George Weaver, 8-1

7. Dekabrist, Cory Orm, Gennadi Dorochenko, 15-1

8. Mr. Z, Joel Bravo, D. Wayne Lukas, 6-1

9. Bodhisattva, TBA, Jose Corrales, 12-1

Mr Z, in a serious class relief, will romp.

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Mr. Z will be near the pace probably through 3/4 mi. but not sure if he has it in him to maintain for the full 1 1/16 mi. distance. There are other horses that don't quit at the end.

I think Walt has it right if Far Right can get any kind of pace to run at.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I think Diving Rod is quickest. No tape of Whiskey Ticket, the Baffert horse, winning the Illinois Derby on YouTube unfortunately. Would like to see that for some indication of his strength. Perhaps the early betting is giving Baffet's horse too much respect at 3-1 because of A.P. Triple Crown victory.

http://wgntv.com/2015/04/18/whiskey-ticket-wins-58th-running-of-illinois-derby/ Anything to help a BDHP

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

If I can see at least 4/1 on Tendendur I will make a stop at the window.
the two fastest closers going into the race are the 4 and the 6

I would watch what they do with the blinkers. I think he may be better if they took them off.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

he is listed as bx

You play him????

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Well he didn't romp, but he still won at a tasty 6-1. Maybe you all might start listening to me one of these days. I called Noble Bird last week too.



If only I can do better at the other races.

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A few $$

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6/1? If I were there I probably would have unloaded at that price. What did Far Right go off at?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Had everything right but Mr. Z. So close with Diving Rod, War Story and Tencendur in my tri and super-fecta picks but should have bet Mr. Z with his speed. Didn't think he would hang on for the 1 1/16 trip.

Congrats to SPMACK.

7-1 finished at 2:15

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Yeah, 6/1 is fat on Mr. Z, but I would have gone with Far Right at 7/1. Who was the chalk? Divining Rod? Whiskey Ticket?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Diving Rod was at 2/1.

Someone posted a video on the Tube of the race. Here it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr1RoXKZpKQ

That was a good race!