Thistledown Picks: Ohio Derby Analysis (6/20/2026)

Chris Adams

Written by: Chris Adams

Published: Sat Jun 20, 2026, 7:00 am ET

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!

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Thistledown Full Card Analysis

Thistledown Picks: Ohio Derby Analysis (6/20/2026)

Thistledown Picks: Ohio Derby Analysis (6/20/2026)

Thistledown Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:00 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $33.9k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #7 BIG DADDY HANK (5-2): Top Pick. Barn has been solid. Race sets up perfectly.
  • #6 NATIVE LUCCI (5-1): Major Player. Can run with these. May be able to take advantage of the pace.
  • #3 LUCY'S FIRST SONG (3-1): Contender. Could wear these ones down late. Salazar puts this one in with a chance.
  • #1 EL CANELO ONE (9-2): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 3 – 1

The Plays

Win: #7 at 2-1

Exacta: 7 / 6,3,1

Thistledown Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 12:28 PM ET; Claiming $17.9k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

  • #3 DOUBLE AGENT (9-5): Top Pick. Barn has been solid. Stamina to outlast the competition.
  • #1 O G MR. BRIGHTSIDE (9-2): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Should take a liking to the race shape.
  • #6 BALKI BARTOKOMOUS (2-1): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Bracho puts this one in with a chance.
  • #5 DRILIN' FOR GEMS (20-1): Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Skerrett and Johnson team up on this one.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 6 – 5

The Plays

Win: #3 at 7-5

Exacta: 3 / 1,5

Thistledown Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 12:56 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $33.9k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #3 DOLLAR DANCE (6-1): Top Pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Strong early pace figs.
  • #5 ELECTRIC EDEN (3-1): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #8 COMPOSITION (2-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Speed figs match up nicely.
  • #1 RYZEN (9-2): Major Player. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Salazar and Atala team up on this one.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 8 – 1

The Plays

Win: #3 at 5-1

Exacta: 3 / 5,1

Thistledown Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:24 PM ET; Starter Optional Claiming $20k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

  • #7 ABSOLUTE MIRACLE (5-2): Top Pick. Strong early pace figs. Race sets up perfectly.
  • #5 GOSHEN (4-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #3 TWILIGHT VISION (6-1): Contender. Has been running well enough recently. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
  • #6 O SHAUGHESEY (6-1): Fringe Contender. Bracho puts this one in with a chance.

Selections: 7 – 5 – 3 – 6

The Plays

Win: #7 at 2-1

Exacta: 7 / 5,3,6

Thistledown Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 1:52 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $33.9k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #7 DARK N DIRTY (5-2): Top Pick. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance. Should be able to work out a trip.
  • #1 CAMP PERRY (8-1): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Rivera and Radosevich. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #4 DR INSPIRED (2-1): Major Player. Should step forward from the first start. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #8 LOWELLS LEGACY (9-2): Major Player. Bloodlines fit this race. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 4 – 8

The Plays

Win: #7 at 2-1

Exacta: 7 / 1,4,8

Thistledown Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:20 PM ET; Allowance $40.1k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #8 MISS ELECKTRA (9-2): Top Pick. Comes in with solid form. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
  • #5 GATHA'S SONG (10-1): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #2 SHE'S WILLIE FAST (12-1): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Gonzalez and Pool.
  • #6 SMALL TOWN GOSSIP (6-1): Contender. Rivera and Jackson team up on this one. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 8 – 5 – 2 – 6

The Plays

Win: #8 at 7-2

Exacta: 8 / 5,2,6

Thistledown Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 2:48 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $33.9k; 5 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 13 runners.

  • #1 MOONLIGHTER (7-2): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Barn has been solid.
  • #6 HAPPYCASTLE (12-1): Major Player. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #2 KILLA CREED (6-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #13 LORDBETWENTOTHORNS (8-1): Contender. Bloodlines fit this race. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 1 – 6 – 2 – 13

The Plays

Win: #1 at 3-1

Pick 3 (Races 7-9): #1,6 with #9 with #3,8

Exacta: 1 / 6,2,13

Thistledown Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:18 PM ET; George Lewis Memorial Stakes $75k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #9 VILLIAN (9-5): Best Bet of the Card. Stamina to outlast the competition. Race sets up perfectly.Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #10 RONNIS SECOND WIND (8-1): Fringe Contender. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch. Seems to be up against the right competition.
  • #6 SHADOWY (3-1): Fringe Contender. Previous success in similar race types. The 91 speed rating is among the best in the field.
  • #2 OVID (8-1): Fringe Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 9 – 10 – 6 – 2

The Plays

Win: #9 at 1-1

Exacta: 9 / 10,6,2

Thistledown Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 3:57 PM ET; Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup Stakes $75k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #3 MARK MY WORDS (2-1): Top Pick. Fits well with this group.
  • #8 WATER INTO WINE (5-2): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #6 COWGIRLSLUVME (15-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
  • #7 R U ENTICED (9-2): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 3 – 8 – 6 – 7

The Plays

Win: #3 at 7-5

Exacta: 3 / 8,6

Thistledown Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 4:48 PM ET; Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial Stakes $75k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #1 DRILLS WILD BRAT (6-1): Longshot Play of the Day. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance. Fits well with this group. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #10 AUTHORITARIAN GIRL (7-2): Major Player. Gonzalez and Ibarra team up on this one. Likely to get forward position.
  • #11 KICHI KITSU (10-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
  • #4 WAVES OF LIBERTY (15-1): Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Bowen and Hamm team up on this one.

Selections: 1 – 10 – 11 – 4

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-1

Trifecta: 1 / 10,11 / 10,11,4

Thistledown Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:35 PM ET; Lady Jacqueline Stakes $250k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #3 TAKE CHARGE OMAHA (8-1): Top Pick. Comes in with solid form. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #2 NERAZURRI (7-2): Major Player. Running well of late. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #6 PEIGNOIR (6-1): Major Player. Could wear these ones down late. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #1 STANDOUTSENSATION (3-1): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Larose.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 6 – 1

The Plays

Win: #3 at 5-1

Exacta: 3 / 2,6,1

Thistledown Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 6:20 PM ET; Ohio Derby $500k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #8 DESERT GATE (5-2): Top Pick. Comes in with solid form. Top connections on the circuit with Prat and Baffert.
  • #3 CHIP HONCHO (3-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #5 OCELLI (9-2): Contender. Potentially ready to hit a top number.
  • #10 ALBUS (10-1): Contender. Could be grinding down the competition late. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 8 – 3 – 5 – 10

The Plays

Win: #8 at 2-1

Exacta: 8 / 3,5,10

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Chris Adams
Chris Adams

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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