First Look: Ohio Derby, Chicago lead weekend stakes

The calendar has lightened considerably with the last of the Triple Crown races, but intriguing fields are lined up for this weekend’s stakes.

Kentucky Derby trail contenders return in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Vahva, winner of three of her last four starts, all in graded stakes, looks for another one in the Chicago (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Here are the likely fields for these and two listed stakes on the weekend agenda.

Saturday

Ohio Derby (G3), Thistledown, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds

Catching Freedom had won two of four starts, including the Louisiana Derby (G2), before finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness. Uncle Heavy was 3-for-4 after winning the Withers (G3) by a nose, but then he was fifth in the Wood Memorial (G2) and sixth in the Preakness. Mugatu is 0-for-8 since breaking his maiden, including a fifth-place finish in the Blue Grass (G1) and eighth in the Preakness. Trainer Bill Mott considered the Belmont Stakes for Batten Down after he broke his maiden by 8 3/4 lengths but opted for this spot instead.

Musical Mischief is 0-for-3 this year, most recently finishing second to odds-on favorite Shotgun Hottie in the Allaire Dupont Distaff. Misty Veil was in the money for her first three starts this year, including second by a neck in the Azeri (G2), before finishing eighth in the Apple Blossom (G1) last out. Kenny McPeek’s Corningstone is coming off an optional-claiming allowance at this track and distance on June 9.

Chicago (G3), Churchill Downs, 7 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

After closing out 2023 with two graded-stakes wins, Vahva returned from a five-month layoff to finish second in the Madison (G1) and win the Derby City Distaff (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Chi Town Lady was fourth in the Derby City Distaff after returning from a nearly eight-month break to win the black-type Minaret in February. Society, winner of this race last year, makes her first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Wild Applause (listed), Aqueduct, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Gala Brand would make her first start since finishing 13th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She had won her first two starts in August, including the With Anticipation (G3), before finishing fourth in the Miss Grillo (G2). Awesome Czech would make her first start since finishing second by a neck in the Tepin in November. In her first start since she finished sixth in the Demoiselle (G2) in December, Vino Rouge finished third in a May 19 allowance at Aqueduct. Tina Ballerina broke her maiden in April on her third try then was fourth in an optional-claiming allowance last month. One or two are possible from Chad Brown, who nominated seven fillies here.