The Bottom Line
- Who Dey (1:20pm ET, 8/5) — the class act of Best of Ohio day, banker material in the Governor’s Buckeye Cup.
- Superwolf (2:20pm ET, 5/2) — chasing a seventh straight win in the Honey Jay Stakes.
- Breakheart Pass (12:45pm ET, 2/1) — flew home on debut and can take the Cleveland Kindergarten.
- Motownsnojoke (1:50pm ET, 2/1) — the one to beat in the Miss Ohio Stakes.
Meeting Context
It’s the biggest afternoon of the summer at Thistledown, the North Randall oval just outside Cleveland, as the track stages its Best of Ohio showcase — five $100,000 stakes for Ohio-breds packed into the first five races, all wrapped up in a 50-cent Pick 5.
First post is 12:10pm ET and all eight races are on the dirt. The forecast is warm — mid-80s — with sunshine but a thunderstorm risk later, so a fast track is expected for the stakes action early on the card.
Odds quoted are the morning line and correct at time of writing. If you’re building a full Saturday across the East, our Saratoga picks and Ellis Park picks are also live.
12:10 — Best of Ohio Pay the Man Stakes (1 1/8 Miles, Fillies & Mares)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Kiss | Chelsey Keiser | David Wolochuk | 3/1 |
| 3 | Candlelight Hours | T. D. Houghton | James R. Jackson | 7/2 |
| 9 | Lionistic | Luis Raul Rivera | Jeffrey A. Radosevich | 4/1 |
| 5 | Striking Lady | Jason Simpson | Ricardo Bailey | 5/1 |
| 4 | La Artista | Scott Spieth | S. Matthew Kintz | 6/1 |
| 2 | Here’s the Spider | Luis Alberto Batista | Edward Fernandez | 8/1 |
| 7 | Derby Day Kiss | Santiago Gonzalez | Robert C. Cline | 12/1 |
| 6 | Jac’s Cocoabella | David J. Haldar | Ivan Vazquez | 15/1 |
| 8 | Banana Pudding | Jose A. Bracho | Gary L. Johnson | 15/1 |
The Favourites: Silver Kiss heads the morning line at 3/1 for the Wolochuk barn, with the consistent Candlelight Hours next in at 7/2 over this nine-furlong trip.
The Value: Striking Lady at 5/1 has tactical speed and could get first run on the closers from mid-pack.
The Verdict: Lionistic is a multiple winner over this main track and the Radosevich stable wins races here in bunches. At 4/1 she’s the play.
12:45 — Best of Ohio Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes (6 Furlongs, 2-Year-Olds)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Book Value | Erik Barbaran | Robert M. Gorham | 9/5 |
| 5 | Breakheart Pass | Santiago Gonzalez | Robert C. Cline | 2/1 |
| 3 | Battle Ready | Fernando De La Cruz | Robert M. Gorham | 5/1 |
| 4 | Skedazzle | Victor R. Fernandez | Robert M. Gorham | 8/1 |
| 7 | Empire Vybz | Jerome J. Innis | Jason DaCosta | 8/1 |
| 1 | Snitch | Fernando Salazar Becerra | Robert M. Gorham | 10/1 |
| 2 | Southern Dawn | Luis Raul Rivera | James R. Jackson | 15/1 |
| 6 | Flashy Idol | David J. Haldar | Nestor R. Rivera | 20/1 |
The Favourites: Bob Gorham saddles half the field, headed by 9/5 chalk Book Value — a juvenile with a slice of history already, having become the first winner for freshman sire and 2021 Kentucky Derby hero Mandaloun back in June.
The Value: Stablemate Battle Ready at 5/1 gives the Gorham quartet a serious second string.
The Verdict: Breakheart Pass came home like a rocket on debut for Bob Cline and the step to six furlongs looks made for him. Marginal call over Book Value, but he gets the nod.
1:20 — Best of Ohio Governor’s Buckeye Cup Stakes (1 1/4 Miles)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Who Dey | Irving Moncada | Thomas Drury, Jr. | 8/5 |
| 6 | Ekati’s Way | Victor R. Fernandez | Robert C. Cline | 3/1 |
| 1 | Fair and Square | Rocco Bowen | Timothy E. Hamm | 4/1 |
| 3 | Silence | Jefferson Skerrett | Jeffrey Skerrett | 6/1 |
| 5 | Tantrum | Luis Raul Rivera | Timothy E. Hamm | 8/1 |
| 7 | Private Moment | David J. Haldar | Mary L. Hurley | 12/1 |
| 8 | Leavetheninetynine | Jose A. Bracho | Jeffrey A. Radosevich | 15/1 |
| 2 | That’s the Way | Erik Barbaran | Jeffrey A. Radosevich | 20/1 |
The Favourites: The ten-furlong centerpiece revolves around Who Dey, the Thomas Drury Jr. shipper who has been running well in far deeper waters at Churchill Downs. He’s 8/5 and hard to pick against; Ekati’s Way is second choice at 3/1.
The Value: Fair and Square has won this very prize before for Tim Hamm and 4/1 underestimates a proven stayer on the day that matters most to Ohio connections.
The Verdict: Who Dey is the banker on the card — the Pick 5 single, plain and simple.
1:50 — Best of Ohio Miss Ohio Stakes (6 Furlongs, 2-Year-Old Fillies)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Motownsnojoke | David J. Haldar | Justin Radosevich | 2/1 |
| 4 | Panda Listen | Fernando De La Cruz | Brendan P. Walsh | 5/2 |
| 6 | Maddy’s Fury | Rocco Bowen | Timothy E. Hamm | 5/1 |
| 8 | Chicabee | Summer Pauly | John Corriveau | 6/1 |
| 3 | Time Traveler | Luis Raul Rivera | James R. Jackson | 8/1 |
| 2 | Box Office Hit | Erik Barbaran | Robert M. Gorham | 10/1 |
| 1 | Michelle My Belle | Jose A. Bracho | Jeffrey A. Radosevich | 12/1 |
| 5 | Bea Bold | Chelsey Keiser | Timothy E. Hamm | 15/1 |
| 9 | Ice Bee | Santiago Gonzalez | Yoni R. Orantes | 30/1 |
The Favourites: Motownsnojoke sets the standard at 2/1, while it’s eye-catching to see Grade 1-winning trainer Brendan Walsh ship in Panda Listen (5/2) for a state-bred stakes.
The Value: Box Office Hit at 10/1 demolished her rivals by six and a quarter lengths on debut here in July — the first winner for freshman sire Idol — and is overpriced on that evidence.
The Verdict: Motownsnojoke to hold off Panda Listen, with Box Office Hit the exacta saver underneath.
2:20 — Best of Ohio Honey Jay Stakes (6 Furlongs)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Silent Rule | Brandon Tapara | Jay P. Bernardini | 2/1 |
| 8 | Superwolf | Erik Barbaran | Robert M. Gorham | 5/2 |
| 2 | Boots Malone | Fernando Salazar Becerra | Robert M. Gorham | 5/1 |
| 1 | Empire’s Fire | Jose A. Bracho | Jeffrey A. Radosevich | 6/1 |
| 4 | Fortissimo | Rocco Bowen | Timothy E. Hamm | 8/1 |
| 7 | Diamond Dust | Israel O. Rodriguez | Scooter Davis | 10/1 |
| 9 | Win Herbie Win | Victor R. Fernandez | Robert C. Cline | 12/1 |
| 5 | Stage Name | Angel I. Diaz | Nestor R. Rivera | 15/1 |
| 6 | Sadie’s Ghost | T. D. Houghton | Loren Huepenbecker | 30/1 |
The Favourites: Silent Rule is the 2/1 morning-line choice for Jay Bernardini, but the story of the race is Superwolf (5/2), the Cleveland Gold Cup winner who arrives on a six-race winning streak for the Gorham barn.
The Value: Empire’s Fire at 6/1 has the early lick to make this an honest test and could hang around for a piece.
The Verdict: Streaks end eventually — but not here. Superwolf makes it seven straight.
2:50 — Allowance (1 Mile, Fillies & Mares)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mia’s Go | Alexander Chavez | Nestor R. Rivera | 8/5 |
| 3 | Creator of Magic | Charle Oliveros | Eric R. Reed | 2/1 |
| 5 | Dos Amores | Erik Barbaran | Michael L. Rone | 3/1 |
| 1 | Vespera | Luis Raul Rivera | Jeffrey A. Radosevich | 6/1 |
| 4 | Cowgirl Chic | Bailey Weatherly | Eric R. Reed | 10/1 |
| 6 | Unchained Spirit | Humberto Haldar | Ricardo Bailey | 20/1 |
The Favourites: A compact field of six after the stakes fireworks. Mia’s Go (8/5) and Creator of Magic (2/1) — from the barn of Rich Strike’s trainer Eric Reed — dominate the market.
The Value: Dos Amores at 3/1 is no forlorn hope if the top two take each other on early.
The Verdict: Mia’s Go for Nestor Rivera and Alexander Chavez, a combination that needs no introduction at this oval.
3:20 — $5,000 Claiming (5 1/2 Furlongs)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Dream On Baby | Jason Simpson | Ricardo Gonzalez | 2/1 |
| 2 | Brewing | Humberto Haldar | Ivan Calderon | 5/2 |
| 6 | Hey Cue | T. D. Houghton | Ricardo Bailey | 7/2 |
| 5 | Florida Gator | Deshawn L. Parker | Johanna Urieta | 5/1 |
| 3 | Making Me Crazy | Brandon Tapara | Joseph P. Mahan | 8/1 |
| 1 | Otis Otis Otis | Rocco Bowen | Justin Radosevich | 10/1 |
| 7 | Little Vaquero | Jefferson Skerrett | Donaciano Gonzalez | 15/1 |
The Favourites: Dream On Baby (2/1) and Brewing (5/2) fight out favoritism in a typical bottom-level dash.
The Value: Florida Gator at 5/1 gets the services of Deshawn Parker, one of the winningest riders in North American history — always respected at this level.
The Verdict: Dream On Baby, but this is a race to watch rather than bet heavily.
3:50 — Allowance (5 1/2 Furlongs, Fillies & Mares)
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Roughnthepassenger | Rocco Bowen | Timothy E. Hamm | 9/5 |
| 6 | Bend My Ear | Mauro Cedillo | David Wolochuk | 2/1 |
| 2 | Honduras Passion | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | Kim A. Puhl | 3/1 |
| 4 | Magic Moon | Chelsey Keiser | David Wolochuk | 6/1 |
| 1 | Suzie Q’s Sister | Luis Alberto Batista | Jason DaCosta | 8/1 |
| 5 | Lady Midshipman | Humberto Haldar | Jason DaCosta | 15/1 |
The Favourites: The finale is a sprint allowance for the girls, with Roughnthepassenger (9/5) giving Tim Hamm and Rocco Bowen a strong closing hand ahead of Bend My Ear (2/1).
The Value: Honduras Passion at 3/1 has speed to burn and could prove hard to reel in over the abbreviated trip.
The Verdict: Roughnthepassenger to send the Hamm barn home happy. If you fancy more late-afternoon action, our Delaware Park picks run deep into the evening.
Accumulator
Our Best of Ohio four-timer: Breakheart Pass (12:45), Who Dey (1:20), Motownsnojoke (1:50) and Superwolf (2:20). At morning-line prices the parlay pays around 80/1 — a small stake goes a long way on Ohio’s biggest day.
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