Thistledown Picks: Ohio Derby (06/21/2025)

Written by: Chris Adams
Last Updated: Thu Jun 19, 2025, 19:55 PM
Read Time: 8 minutes

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The racing action from Thistledown on Saturday features the Ohio Derby. @HandicappingT3 has all the Thistledown picks for the entire card!
Be sure to check out all the races and odds provided at the best horse racing betting sites.
Thistledown Full Card Analysis

Thistledown Picks- Ohio Derby (06/21/2025)
Bet all of today’s selections with signup bonuses and promotions at BetOnline.
Thistledown Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:00 P.M. ET; Claiming $32k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

Best Bet of the Card
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#3 VECCHI (10-1): Best bet of the card. Proven competitor at this configuration with top connections. Great value makes this one the best bet. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
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#5 RED CHIPS (5-2): Major Player. Can run with these. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
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#2 SWAYBACK MOBIL (9-2): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
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#6 SO THAT’S THAT (3-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race shape gives this one an edge.
Selections: 3 – 5 – 2 – 6
The Plays:
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Win: #3 at 6-1
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Exacta Key Box: 3/2,5,6
Thistledown Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 12:28 P.M. ET; Allowance $29.7k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.
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#2 DRURY LANE (8-5): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Race sets up perfectly.
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#6 TAPIRS VALOR (4-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Likely to get forward position.
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#4 QUICK QUICK WHIT (10-1): Major Player. The 89 speed rating is among the best in the field. Has experience at this level.
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#1 CHARLESTON (8-1): Major Player. Ran at this level last out. Aviles puts this one in with a chance.
Selections: 2 – 6 – 4 – 1
The Plays:
- Win: #2 at 7-5
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Exacta: 2/1,4,6
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Trifecta: 2/1,4,6/1,4,6
Thistledown Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 12:56 P.M. ET; Maiden Special Weight $33.9k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners.
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#2 DARK N DIRTY (4-1): Prime Win Player. Feliciano puts this one in with a chance. Proven competitor at this configuration.
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#4 I BELONG FIRST (6-1): Contender. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
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#8 LIZZY’S DREAM (8-1): Contender. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Hard to argue with the recent races.
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#12 ONE LADY (9-2): Contender. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start.
Selections: 2 – 4 – 8 – 12
The Plays:
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Win: #2 at 5-2
- Exacta Box: 2,4,8
Thistledown Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 1:24 P.M. ET; Starter Optional Claiming $20k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
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#3 ICE BLAST (8-1): Top pick. Nunez and Rivera team up on this one. Race sets up perfectly.
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#4 SHIVAREE (6-1): Major Player. Rodriguez puts this one in with a chance.
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#2 STRIKE APPEAL (4-1): Major Player. Has experience at this level. Likely in the mix early.
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#5 SWEEPING GIANT (2-1): Major Player. Could be grinding down the competition late. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.
Selections: 3 – 4 – 2 – 5
The Plays:
- Win: #3 at 6-1
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Exacta Box: 3,4,5
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Trifecta: 3,4,5/2,3,4,5/2,3,4,5
Thistledown Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 1:52 P.M. ET; Maiden Special Weight $33.9k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
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#8 RENEWED (2-1): Prime Win Player. Solid breeding for this spot. Should be able to work out a trip.
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#2 VESPER MARTINI (5-2): Contender. Nunez and Fadlovich team up on this one. Likely to get forward position.
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#6 ILLUMINATE (6-1): Contender. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Could wear these ones down late.
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#7 ANOTHERWINNER (12-1): Contender. Bracho and Radosevich team up on this one. Could be ready to hit a peak performance.
Selections: 8 – 2 – 6 – 7
The Plays:
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Win: #8 at 6-5
Thistledown Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 2:20 P.M. ET; Allowance $28k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
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#8 BAYTOWN BUTTERFLY (4-1): Top pick. Strong early pace figs. Fits well with this group.
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#4 HONDURAS PASSION (12-1): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Gonzalez and Puhl. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
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#6 SHE’S SO SEXY (8-1): Fringe Contender. May be able to find the right setup. Bracho puts this one in with a chance.
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#2 LOVEBUG (12-1): Fringe Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.
Selections: 8 – 4 – 6 – 2
The Plays:
- Win: #8 at 4-1
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Exacta Box: 8,4,6
Thistledown Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 2:48 P.M. ET; Maiden Special Weight $33.9k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners.
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#1 RIVER BYE (7-2): Prime Win Player. Stamina to outlast the competition. Proven competitor at this configuration.
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#9 MOONLITE DANCE (6-1): Contender. Can run with these. Should take a liking to the race shape.
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#6 FLARING SONG (9-2): Fringe Contender. Weatherly and Bird team up on this one.
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#10 GRITS N GRAVY (4-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 1 – 9 – 6 – 10
The Plays:
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Win: #1 at 3-1
Thistledown Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 3:18 P.M. ET; George Lewis Memorial Stakes $75k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 12 runners.
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#4 BIG TRUCK (9-2): Top pick. Fits well with this group. Diaz puts this one in with a chance.
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#12 VILLIAN (7-2): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Likely to get forward position.
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#9 OKLAHOMA JOE (10-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Has experience at this level.
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#7 MISTER MOBIL (15-1): Major Player. Ran at this level last out. Should still have enough in the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 4 – 12 – 9 – 7
The Plays:
- Win: #4 at 3-1
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Exacta Box: 4,7,9,12
Thistledown Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 3:57 P.M. ET; Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup Stakes $75k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
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#8 SUPERWOLF (4-1): Top pick. Comes in with solid form. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
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#2 BOOTS MALONE (5-2): Major Player. Ramos puts this one in with a chance. Good race flow for this runner.
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#1 FORTISSIMO (2-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
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#5 ED’S REWARD (8-1): Fringe Contender. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 8 – 2 – 1 – 5
The Plays:
- Win: #8 at 5-2
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Exacta: 8/1,2,5
Thistledown Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 4:48 P.M. ET; Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial Stakes $75k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners.
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#1 AUTHORITARIAN GIRL (7-2): Top pick. Fits well with this group. Strong early pace figs.
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#11 LEMON MOUSSE (4-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Speed figures match this group well.
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#2 QUEENOFTHEBUCKEYE (8-1): Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
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#7 TIERNEY (9-2): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 1 – 11 – 2 – 7
The Plays:
- Win: #1 at 2-1
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Exacta: 1/2,7,11
Thistledown Picks – Race 11
Post Time: 5:35 P.M. ET; Lady Jacqueline Stakes $250k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
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#6 WHERE’S MY RING (2-1): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Strong early pace figs.
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#7 PEIGNOIR (9-5): Major Player. Should take a liking to the race shape. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
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#3 RED HOT LASS (8-1): Contender. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous. Previous success in similar race types.
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#4 IN JUST MY HEELS (9-2): Fringe Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 6 – 7 – 3 – 4
The Plays:
- Win: #6 at 7-5
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Exacta: 6/3,4,7
Thistledown Picks – Race 12
Post Time: 6:20 P.M. ET; Ohio Derby $500k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day
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#10 MO PLEX (6-1): Longshot play of the day. Stamina to outlast the competition. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
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#6 CLEVER AGAIN (9-5): Major Player. Ortiz and Asmussen team up on this one. Good race flow for this runner.
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#4 MCAFEE (3-1): Contender. Velazquez and Dutrow team up on this one.
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#2 CHUNK OF GOLD (7-2): Contender. Could be grinding down the competition late. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start.
Selections: 10 – 6 – 4 – 2
The Plays:
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Win: #10 at 4-1
- Exacta Key Box: 10/6,4,2
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Saturday Analysis
- Canterbury Park Picks featuring the Lady Canterbury Stakes
- Churchill Downs Picks featuring the Grade 2 Chicago Stakes
- Thistledown Picks featuring the Grade 3 Ohio Derby
Sunday Analysis
- Belmont at the Big A Picks featuring the Wilton Stakes
- Gulfstream Park Picks featuring the Musical Romance Stakes

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.
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