Desert Gate and Chip Honcho Lead the Charge in the $500,000 Ohio Derby

While the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) may lack the prestige of the Triple Crown, it offers a high-stakes challenge for horseplayers seeking lucrative returns. The race features a competitive 10-horse field contesting 1 1/8 miles at Thistledown in North Randall this Saturday, including five runners who previously competed in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes.

Among the favorites is Chip Honcho, who finished third in the Preakness Stakes. He will be guided by jockey Jose Ortiz, who enjoyed a stellar spring winning both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes aboard Golden Tempo. After Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness, Ortiz took the reins of Chip Honcho, finishing behind Napoleon Solo and Iron Honor.

Desert Gate Enters as Morning Line Favorite

Bob Baffert’s Desert Gate is the early favorite at 5-2. Though he bypassed the Triple Crown series, the Omaha Beach colt has found his stride with two consecutive victories, most notably a dominant performance in the Texas Derby at Lone Star Park on May 25. Steve Asmussen’s Chip Honcho follows closely as the second choice at 3-1.

The field also includes Albus, the Wood Memorial (G2) winner who struggled to 15th in the Kentucky Derby, as well as Preakness participants Bull by the Horns and Robusta. Other contenders include Texas Derby runner-up Chad Allen, Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Trendsetter, and recent winners Zihnal and Jupiter.

Triple Crown Veterans Seek Redemption

For several colts, the Ohio Derby represents a vital opportunity to reboot their summer campaigns. Chip Honcho has consistently performed well, with a win in the Gunner Runner Stakes and strong showings in the Risen Star (G2) and Lecomte (G3). Following a fourth-place finish in the Preakness, his tactical speed should keep him prominent throughout the race.

Ocelli, who surprised many with a third-place finish at 70-1 in the Kentucky Derby, enters the race at 9-2. Trained by Whit Beckman, the colt has earned $729,800—the highest in the field—despite yet to secure a victory. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will again be in the irons, likely employing a closing kick from post 5.

Baffert’s Desert Gate Ships in from the West Coast

After a disappointing fourth in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) in February, Bob Baffert opted to prepare Desert Gate for a summer peak. The strategy has paid off; the colt dismantled the field in the Hot Springs Stakes by 9 ¾ lengths before winning the Texas Derby by 6 ¼ lengths. Top jockey Flavien Prat will pilot the favorite from post 8, where he is expected to push for an early lead.

Expert Picks: 1. Desert Gate, 2. Ocelli, 3. Chip Honcho

The field for the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3), listed from the rail out:

1 Chad Allan (Alexander Chavez, Robert Young), 6-1

2 Robusta (Emisael Jaramillo, Doug O’Neill), 20-1

3 Chip Honcho (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen), 3-1

4 Trendsetter (Kizushi Kimura, Ben Colebrook), 5-1

5 Ocelli (Tyler Gaffalione, Whit Beckman), 9-2

6 Zihnal (Emmanuel Esquivel, Jonathan Thomas), 30-1

7 Bull by the Horns (Micah Husbands, Saffie Joseph, Jr.), 12-1

8 Desert Gate (Flavien Prat, Bob Baffert), 5-2

9 Jupiter (Angel Diaz, Nestor Rivera), 30-1

10 Albus (Jaime Torres, Riley Mott), 10-1

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