In a hotly contested 3-year-old division, Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve runner-up Two Phil’s made his case as a horse to be reckoned with after a trendy rating within the $500,000 Ohio Derby June 24 at Thistledown.

Coach Larry Rivelli was bullish about Two Phil’s rank on the sophomore totem pole after Saturday’s victory, during which the colt handily defeated Bishops Bay, who entered the race off a slim runner-up end to Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets winner Arcangelo within the Might 13 Peter Pan Stakes.

“I feel it’s a really aggressive [crop]. I feel we’re beginning to hopefully separate ourselves somewhat bit,” Rivelli mentioned. “The factor about our horse is that he reveals up each time. I’m but to see him throw in a clunker. And I feel he’s simply getting higher.”

The son of Arduous Spun has been the image of consistency all through his 3-year-old marketing campaign, by no means ending worse than third in 4 begins this 12 months. After strong placings in Derby prep races at Truthful Grounds over the winter, Two Phil’s romped by 5 1/4 lengths in Turfway Park’s Jeff Ruby Steaks earlier than making his approach to Churchill Downs for the Derby. And it was in that race the place he quashed any doubts about his potential to compete towards the very best — taking the lead on the prime of the lane solely to get worn down by Mage late.

Bypassing the ultimate two jewels of the Triple Crown in favor of resting the colt and getting ready for the summer time classics, Rivelli returned Two Phil’s to his house coaching base at Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago for a short reprieve.

Three days earlier than the Ohio Derby, the Two Phil’s group obtained some unlucky information when the colt’s common rider, Jareth Loveberry, was injured whereas using June 21 at Canterbury Park. The pair had been via eight of the chestnut’s 9 begins collectively. So Gerardo Corrales, the one different jockey to have ridden Two Phil’s (in his profession debut), was referred to as upon to take the mount.

The race unfolded completely for Corrales. With longshot Henry Q and Bishops Bay urgent an early tempo via quarter-mile fractions of :22.62 and :47.42, Two Phil’s tracked comfortably in fourth within the clear down the backstretch. By no means too removed from the entrance duo, Corrales set the colt unfastened on the second flip and he exploded previous his rivals with a stirring flip of foot. Forward by two lengths on the quarter pole, he continued to stride away from Bishops Bay, streaking previous the end line 5 3/4 lengths the very best.

“It went nearly as good as we may’ve anticipated,” Rivelli famous. “The journey was good; the journey was good. while you draw [the race] up that approach and also you say that is what you’d wish to occur, that is what you’d wish to occur. When it performs out the identical actual approach it’s somewhat little bit of luck however we couldn’t have drawn it up any higher.”

The three-5 favourite, Two Phil’s ($3.20) raced the 1 1/8 miles in a remaining time of 1:49.60 on a quick predominant monitor. Bishops Bay was seven lengths forward of Hayes Strike in third.

Rivelli mentioned following the Ohio Derby that Two Phil’s would goal the July 22 Haskell Stakes for his subsequent begin, however these plans had been put in jeopardy on Sunday, June 25, when the coach advised Day by day Racing Type that Two Phil’s suffered an ankle harm and was receiving therapy at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky. Rivelli later advised BloodHorse that the harm would maintain the colt out of coaching for the remainder of his 3-year-old season.