Despite a heavy rain and muddy track, five $100,000 Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund (OTRF) stakes went off without a hitch on Best of Ohio day at Belterra Park on Friday, May 28.
Capturing the Sydney Gendelman Stakes was none other than the 9-5 choice Wicked Warrior, a Benny Feliciano-trainee owned by Bruce Tallisman, who demolished his competition by more than ten lengths. This 4-year-old bay gelding by Wicked Strong covered the one and one-sixteenth mile event for Registered Ohio-breds, 3-year-olds and up in 1:43.68 with Ricardo Feliciano in the saddle. Wicked Warrior now has $215,790 in career earnings from six wins, four seconds and one third in 13 starts. Forewarned (6-5) was second for Sonny Leon, with 18-1 Mobil Solution (Erik Barbaran) third and 90-1 Candy Exchange (David Haldar) fourth.
Altissimo captured the Palacious Memorial, a six-furlong sprint, for the third straight time (having won this stake in 2018 & 2019). Owned by Nancy Lavrich and Ronald Zielinski, the homebred 8-year-old son of Noble Causeway is trained by Richard Zielinski and now has $894,534 in earnings from 19 wins, eight seconds and six thirds in 48 career starts. Altissimo was clocked in 1:10.42 with rider Ronald Dale Allen, Jr., in the irons, with 19-1 Chief Randel (Fernando Becerra) second, 9-2 Going with Style (Sonny Leon) third and 9-2 I Wanna Win (Erik Barbaran) fourth.
Buckeye Magic captured his third career start in five tries as the 6-5 favorite by whipping his rivals in the Green Carpet Stakes. The son of Trappe Shot-Lady Buckeye, by Quiet American covered the one and one-sixteenth miles in 1:45.92 over the slop for rider John McKee. Thomas Drury, Jr., trained the winner for owners-breeders Maccabee Farm. Buckeye Magic upped his career earnings to $142,220 with this latest victory. Henry Mac (Luis Batista) was second at 40-1, while 8-1 Big Truck was third for Perry Ouzts and 3-1 choice Brig was fourth for Christian Pilares.
Last year's Galbreath Memorial winner Alexandria, notched her fifth lifetime triumph in her ninth start in the Norm Barron Queen City Oaks, a one and one-sixteenth test for Ohio-registered 3-year-old fillies. The chestnut daughter by Constitution-Spring Water, by Spring at Last is conditioned by Tim Hamm for her breeders and owners WinStar Farm, Blazing Meadows Farm and Michael Lewis. To date has Alexandria has amassed earnings of $261,945. She was clocked in 1:45.03 as the 2-5 choice with Santiago Gonzalez riding. Shez Shacked up (David Haldar) was second at 40-1, with 25-1 Angel's Sassy (Frank Reyes) third and 25-1 Lemon Deelite (John McKee) fourth.
Esplanande obliterated her rivals in the 4th running of the six-furlong Diana Stakes for Ohio-registered fillies, 3-year-old and up. The dark bay daughter of Daredevil-Southern Silence, by Dixie Union was clocked in 1:10.58 for trainer by Tim Hamm for breeders-owners Winstar Farm, Blazing Meadows Farm and Michael Lewis. This homebred, who left the gate at 2-5 odds, now has career earnings of $281,880. Drillit was second at 9-2 for Christian Pilares, with 14-1 Valley of Mo'ara (Frank Reyes) third and 18-1 Edge of Night (Ronald Dale Allen, Jr.) fourth.
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