OHIO’S BIGGEST DAY OF RACING COMES TO CINCINNATI
BELTERRA PARK PLAYS HOST TO “THE BEST OF OHIO”
HORSE OF THE YEAR HONORS ON THE LINE
Five races for Ohio-breds with purses totaling $750,000 will take center stage in a 10-race program at Belterra Park in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday. The series of $150,000 stakes in every division is titled “The Best of Ohio” and each year it rotates to one of the state’s three thoroughbred tracks.
Ohio’s newest millionaire, Rivers Run Deep is favored to win an unprecedented third victory in the $150,000 Best of Sprint. The 6-year-old horse has an affinity for Belterra Park where he has won 6 of his 7 lifetime starts over surfaces labelled fast, good and muddy. Rivers Run Deep set the previous track record of 1:08 2/5 for 6 furlongs. Owned by Ywachetta and James Driver, the son of Ready’s Image is trained by Chris Hartman and will be seeking his 20th career win. Jockey Perry Ouzts, who leads all riders by 43 wins at the meet, will ride him for the first time.
The state’s reining Horse of the Year, Mo Dont No, will go for his second consecutive win in the 1 ¼ mile $150,000 Best of Ohio Endurance. The 4-year-old gelded son of Uncle Mo sports a record of 19 starts with 13 wins and 4 second-place finishes for earnings of $561,255. The Loooch Stable color-bearer is conditioned by Thistledown’s leading trainer Jeff Radosevich and will be piloted by Ricardo Feliciano who has ridden him in his last four consecutive wins. Mo Dont No has never been beaten at 1 ¼ miles with wins at all three Ohio tracks and has been installed as the even-money favorite.
There will be two races at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-olds. Eleven fillies are set to go to post in the John W. Galbreath Memorial and fourteen colts and gelding were entered in the Juvenile. Ten fillies and mares are expected to stretch out in the 1 1/8 mile Distaff. First post at Belterra Park is 1:20 p.m. the Best of Ohio Series will be contested as races 5-9. As always, parking and admission are free.
The Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners will present a free “New Owners Seminar” in the grandstand starting at 11:30 a.m. The event will be hosted by the O.T.B.O. executive director John Engelhardt. Kentucky-based trainer Tom Drury, who has had much success with Ohio-breds in recent seasons will be the featured speaker. Several O.T.B.O. Board members will be in attendance to address a question and answer session at the conclusion of the seminar.
