Owendale takes Ohio Derby (G3) to cap big day for Into Mischief

Owendale bests Math Wizard in the Ohio Derby (G3) – JJ Zamaiko photo

Owendale rallied from last to first in the final three furlongs to win the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3), his second graded stakes win of the year.

Owendale’s victory topped another big day for Into Mischief, coming less than a half-hour after Mia Mischief won the $120,000 Roxelana S. at Churchill Downs.

After winning the Lexington S. (G3) in April and finishing a close third in the Preakness S. (G1), Owendale was the odds-on favorite in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Thistledown feature. Taking up a position in the rear of the six-horse field soon after the break, it wasn’t until midway on the final turn that Florent Geroux urged his mount on, splitting horses in upper stretch, then outran Math Wizard in the final furlong to win by a half-length in 1:50.88 on a fast track.

“It worked out good,” said Geroux. “There was a lot of pace to run at today and I just sat back like he likes to do. I was able to squeeze by from the inside and get some room and he got the job done. He’s a horse who likes to sit back and make one run.”

With the win, Owendale upped his record to 4-1-2 from 10 starts, and has earned $668,725 after the $300,000 payday. He is owned by Rupp Racing and was bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

Pedigree notes from the TDN:

One of 23 graded winnersfor his very successful sire, Owendale is out of an unraced daughter of GSW Zenith (Roy), dam of GISW Great Hunter (Aptitude) and the stakes-placed Glitzen Glory (Honour and Glory). Owendale’s third dam Sequins accounted for MSW & GSP Im Out First (Allen’s Prospect), who became the dam of MSW & GSP Im A Dixie Girl (Dixie Union). Zenith’s half-sister Evening Star (Malibu Moon) produced Eclipse Award winner and six-time GISW Stellar Wind (Curlin), the $6-million topper at Keeneland November in 2017.