Two Phil’s swept to the lead on the far turn then drew off through the stretch on his way to posting an impressive five-and-three-quarter length victory in the G3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on Saturday, 24 June.
The son of Hard Spun, who was making his first start since a sharp runner-up finish in the G1 Kentucky Derby, stamped himself as a major player in the three-year-old colt division, with his top target this summer being the G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August.
A field of eight sophomores went to the post in the Ohio Derby, with Two Phil’s sent off as the heavy favorite. Breaking alertly under jockey Gerardo Corrales, Two Phil’s was settled in third, just behind the pacesetters Henry Q and Bishops Bay.
Two Phil’s made his move on the far turn, sweeping past the leading duo while racing three-wide. From there it was all Two Phil’s, as the talented chestnut colt sailed through the stretch while under a hand-ride, eventually crossing the wire an easy winner.
Bred in Kentucky by Phillip Sagan and raced in partnership by Sagan with Patricia’s Hope LLC, Two Phil’s is out of Mia Torri, a Multiple Stakes-winning and Graded Stakes-placed daughter of General Quarters. Two Phil’s is now a four-time Stakes winner, having also taken the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks, the G3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs, and the Shakopee Juvenile at Canterbury Park.
Hard Spun is beginning to heat up this summer, as Two Phil’s joins fellow Stakes winner, Necker Island, as recent visitors to the winner’s circle. Necker Island captured his third Stakes victory just last weekend, when he came from off the pace to win the $225,000 Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park.
