Sunday, July 21, 2002
Preakness runner-up wins Ohio Derby
The Associated Press
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio — Magic Weisner used a burst of speed near the wire to beat Wiseman's Ferry by a neck Saturday in the $300,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.
Favored Magic Weisner, second to War Emblem in this year's Preakness Stakes, could not dominate in the 1 1-8 mile, Grade II test for 3-year-olds, Ohio's biggest thoroughbred event.
Following the break, Magic Weisner, with Richard Migliore aboard, went to the rail, one length behind Wiseman's Ferry on the turn through the first quarter. That is the way the race stayed until the stretch run when Magic Weisner came on strong.
“Richard Migliore won this race. This was a jockey's race, and he won it,” owner and trainer Nancy Alberts said. “This is my biggest win. We're thinking about the Haskell (Invitational Handicap on Aug. 4 at Monmouth Park) next or the Travers (Stakes on Aug. 24 at Saratoga) depending on how he bounces back.”
Back by 1 1/2 lengths was The Judge Sez Who in third and Peekskill was another three-fourths of a length back.
The winner, earning $180,000, turned in a time of 1:49.96 and paid $4.80 and $2.40. Wiseman's Ferry paid $2.40 to place. The exacta and trifecta paid $8.60 and $18.20, respectively. With the shortened field of just four, there was no show or superfecta wagering. Grey Beard was scratched.
“It wasn't easy, he had to work today,” Migliore said.
He said his mount “had the advantage of speed. We couldn't let him get away and there was really no other natural speed in the race. We basically did the dirty work. We ran our race around and beat (Wiseman's Ferry) at his own game.”
Alberts bred the gelding Magic Weisner in Maryland from mare Jazema, who Alberts purchased for just a dollar. The Ohio Derby is both Alberts' and Magic Weisner's first graded stakes win.
The Ohio Derby was Magic Weisner's first race since finishing fourth to Sarava in the Belmont Stakes.
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