---
title: "Thistledown Picks Today: Can Superwolf Make It Seven Straight?"
canonical: "https://readhorseracing.com/2026/08/08/thistledown-picks-today/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Richard Gore"
section: "News"
published: "2026-08-08T10:10:00Z"
modified: "2026-08-08T10:10:00Z"
---

# Thistledown Picks Today: Can Superwolf Make It Seven Straight?

## 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](https://readhorseracing.com/2026/08/08/saratoga-picks-today/) and [Ellis Park picks](https://readhorseracing.com/2026/08/08/ellis-park-picks-today/) 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](https://readhorseracing.com/2026/08/08/delaware-park-picks-today/) 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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