Best of Ohio at Thistledown: Free Selections for Saturday

Cleveland is holding the Best of Ohio Series this weekend. It moves to each Thoroughbred track at a different time of year, allowing Ohio to showcase its product and invest in breeding and sales for the upcoming season. Take a look at the free selections to start thinking about the weekend, and be sure to download your WinningPonies E-Z Win Form to get a comprehensive look into how the races will take shape.

A quick note: these are Ed's personal selections, based on his own handicapping. They are separate from the WinningPonies E-Z Win Form picks.

Thistledown

Race 1: The $100,000 Pay the Man, 1 1/8 Miles (12:20 PM ET)

#3 Candlelight Hours is a daughter of Dominus for trainer James R. Jackson, with T.D. Houghton in the saddle. She has won this race twice, with a second and a third in the past four editions. She is 22 for 31 in the money over the oval, and if you go back and look at her races prior to the Ohio Series, she puts up a top-shelf effort every time she returns to Ohio company. T.D. Houghton is back in the saddle, and he should have her right off the hot pace and poised to pounce. Rider and trainer have been teaming up since the days back at Detroit Race Course, and they score at a 21% clip as a team in Cleveland.

Race 2: The $100,000 Cleveland Kindergarten, 6 Furlongs (12:50 PM ET)

#5 Breakheart Pass is a son of Event Driven from the Robert C. Cline barn, with Santiago Gonzalez in the irons. He went right with the leader and drew off to win by a commanding 18 3/4 lengths, described in the comment line as "much the best." Cline wins 18% off a last-race win, and with most of the field taking the next step up, he appears to be one tough hombre.

Race 3: The $100,000 Governor's Buckeye Cup, 1 1/4 Miles (1:20 PM ET)

#4 Who Dey is a Thomas Drury runner by Liam's Map who skipped the Best of Ohio Series at Belterra to run the next day in the G3 Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs, where he was beaten a half-length rolling late in the lane. He is 8-5 on the morning line, and if you get anywhere near that number, bet early and often. He has won twice at this distance and should enjoy the class relief here today.

Race 4: The $100,000 Miss Ohio Stakes, 6 Furlongs (1:50 PM ET)

#7 Motownsnojoke is a daughter of Practical Joke for Justin Radosevich, with David Haldar getting the call. She ran a game second first out against the boys in June, then came right back and mowed down the field in the $75,000 Tah Dah at Belterra Park. Coming off a last-race win, the barn scores at a 35% clip. She should be right on the pace and enjoy the extra half furlong to close into.

Race 5: The $100,000 HoneyJay Stakes, 6 Furlongs (2:20 PM ET)

I'm looking for a fast pace here, and close stalkers may get the trip.

#3 Silent Rule is a daughter of Street Boss for Jay Bernardini, with Brandon Tapara getting the call. She is an up-close stalker who owns a perfect 4-for-4 record over the Cleveland oval, and a perfect 10-for-10 lifetime with Tapara as her rider. He knows this mare, and they fit like a glove together. Looking to make it a perfect 11-for-11 today.

Nothing like a little appetizer to get your inner horseplayer ready.

Best of luck, Ed