Ohio Derby Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2022 Ohio Derby Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2022 Ohio Derby is set for June 25 at Thistledown Racino in Cleveland, Ohio. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Ohio Derby Preview
- Race: Ohio Derby
- Purse: $500,000
- Track: Thistledown Racino
- Date: June 25
- Post Time: 5:35 PM (ET)
- Live: Ohio Derby Odds: Click Here
2022 Ohio Derby Handicapping
Typically not a real highlight race on the summer stakes calendar, this year’s version of the (G3) Ohio Derby has drawn a better-than-average field featuring several names from the 2022 Triple Crown Trail.
Open to horses age three, the Ohio Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles on the Thistledown dirt course. There’s a very competitive field of eight expected to go to the gate and the morning line odds represent plenty of fair value across the board.
Odds listed here are provided by the Thistledown track handicapper.
2022 Ohio Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Tawny Port Race Odds: 3-1
Last seen running seventh in the Kentucky Derby, Tawny Port earned some credit in that effort by working his way from the back of the pack all the way up to fifth before tiring late.
Prior to that he had won the (G3) Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, which was essentially a last-chance effort to gain enough points to make the Derby field, which then meant a fairly short turn-around for his run for the roses. He’ll be coming into this on significantly more rest and gets a cut back in distance.
He’s trained by Brad Cox, with Irad Ortiz Jr. tapped to ride.
2022 Ohio Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: White Abarrio Race Odds: 7-2
The winner of the (G1) Florida Derby generated a bit of buzz going into the Kentucky Derby but White Abarrio couldn’t overcome a far outside post draw and had little impact in the race, finishing 16th.
He was actually on a two-race win streak prior to that, as he had also won the (G3) Holy Bull Stakes back in early February. In both of those wins he topped triple-digits in Equibase speed figures. He does have some talent, gets first-time lasix and could have a bounce-back effort here.
The trainer is Saffie Joseph Jr. with regular rider Tyler Gaffalione in the irons.
2022 Ohio Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Ethereal Road Race Odds: 4-1
Ethereal Road’s last-minute scratch from the Kentucky Derby was what allowed Rich Strike to draw in and we all know what happened next.
He had trouble accumulating points on the Derby qualifying trail with a runner-up finishing the (G2) Rebel Stakes his best effort in the winter/spring season. But after skipping the Derby he may have taken a step forward when he won the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on the Preakness Stakes undercard.
Veteran D. Wayne Lukas is the trainer with jockey Rafael Bejarano picking up the mount.
2022 Ohio Derby Free Pick & Handicapping: Classic Causeway Race Odds: 6-1
Once considered one of the very top contenders for the Kentucky Derby title, Classic Causeway’s season suffered a couple of serious setbacks when he ran 11th in the (G1) Florida Derby and repeated that finish in the big event on the first Saturday in May.
There’s no question that he has a lot of early speed and he could try to take this field wire-to-wire, but he has yet to win at a distance beyond 1 1/16 miles.
He’s trained by Ken McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride.
Here’s My 2022 Ohio Derby Free Pick.
This race has a best-of-the-rest feel to it as it features a group of three-year-old colts that may just be a level below the very top horses in the age group.
There are question marks behind all of the top contenders and it wouldn’t be a surprise if one of the lesser known entries eventually comes out on top. But in races like this I tend to lean toward horses that have been facing better competition even if they haven’t been winning.
I think the drop down in class here will be most beneficial to White Abarrio and he’ll be my pick for the win. The late-running Ethereal Road comes in off a confidence-boosting win and I’ll use him in the second spot.
Full Field: Ohio Derby Odds
By post position
- #1 – Barese 9-2
- #2 – Brigadier General 12-1
- #3 – Dropping Gs 8-1
- #4 – Ethereal Road 4-1
- #5 – White Abarrio 7-2
- #6 – Pineapple Man 10-1
- #7 – Tawny Port 3-1
- #8 – Classic Causeway 6-1
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