Midway Road the Rage in Ohio

Midway Road, a distant second to Funny Cide in the Preakness, and Wild And Wicked, a half-brother to The Wicked North, head the field for the $300,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

A Grade II at 1 1/8 miles, the Ohio Derby is part of the National Thoroughbred Racing Assn.’s summer pick three. The other two races in the sequence are the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park and the $250,000 Dallas Turf Cup Handicap at Lone Star Park.

Midway Road, a son of Jade Hunter who is owned and bred by Will Farish and trained by Neil Howard, made his first start in a Grade I in the Preakness on May 17. Although Funny Cide beat him by nearly 10 lengths, he did manage to finish ahead of eight others, including second choice Peace Rules. Robby Albarado will ride Midway Road, who has won three of eight.

The Ohio Derby will be the first stakes appearance for Wild And Wicked, who has won his first two starts by a combined 12 1/4 lengths. Shane Sellers will ride the Wild Again colt for owner-breeders Mr. and Mrs. Robert Randal.

In the 1 1/8-mile race at Lone Star, Candid Glen is the 118-pound high weight. Owned by Glen Warren and trained by Andrew Leggio, the 6-year-old gelding had the biggest win of his career when he staged an 84-1 shocker in the Explosive Bid Handicap at the Fair Grounds on March 23.

Race of the day: Hollywood Park’s fifth is a great betting race offering 11 older horses going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Some of the top contenders include Is It True Mex, De Valmont, Lou’s Expectation and Crescendo.

One for the road: Crimson Avenger looks too quick for his rivals in today’s sixth at Stockton. The Barry Holmes-trained 9-year-old gelding should break clear early and might never look back under jockey Ken Tohill in the $3,200 claimer.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Spring Star in the third, using Don’sellmeshort and Stalking Tiger in the fourth and Is It True Mex, De Valmont, Lou’s Expectation, Lethal Grande and Keep The Silver in the fifth.

Winners (through Thursday): Previous day/meet total: 4/115. Money: Previous day/meet total: $19.40/$621. Total money bet: $722.