Lost Code Wins Ohio Derby; Demons Begone Is Fifth

Lost Code, winner of his previous four races, broke in front at the start and led all the way to win Saturday’s $250,000 Ohio Derby by 3 1/2 lengths over Proudest Duke.

The 53rd running of the race marked an inauspicious comeback attempt by Demons Begone, who was racing for the first time since he failed to finish the Kentucky Derby because he bled from the nostrils.

Demons Begone, the 5-2 favorite in the Kentucky Derby, was the 3-2 choice at Thistledown but never challenged, finishing a distant fifth in the nine-horse field.

Lost Code, who went off at 3-1, was ridden by Gene St. Leon and covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 3/5. He paid $8.20, $3.40 and $3.

Proudest Duke paid $3.20 and $2.60. Homebuilder finished third and paid $4.20.

Lost Code came to the Ohio Derby with $500,006 in earnings and victories in four straight stakes races, including the Alabama and Illinois Derbies. He was not entered in any of the Triple Crown races. Saturday, Lost Code earned $150,000.

Demons Begone raced for the first time while taking Lasix, a medication that lowers a horse’s blood pressure to reduce the risk of bleeding in the lungs. Demons Begone was ridden for the first time by Jerry Bailey because Pat Day, who rode Demons Begone in the Kentucky Derby, had a previous commitment.