Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 6/20 – Thistledown Races 8 & 9

It’s Ohio Derby Day at Thistledown and we will take a look at the final five races on the card. Here, we will look at races eight and nine on a 12-race card as Ohio bred horses will be featured.

Race eight is the George Lewis Memorial as they will go a mile and a sixteenth. In the next race, we will look at the Cleveland Gold Cup as three-year-olds born in Ohio go a mile and an eighth.

Thistledown Race 8 – George Lewis Memorial

Up first on our docket today is the George Lewis Memorial. Favored in this field of 10 horses is the 9 Villian (9/5 morning line). He won this race last year and looks to repeat. He is taking the same route as last year for this race, but for this year, the stakes race at Belterra Park was rained off the turf. This gelding made a five-wide move but could not get to the winner. He can stalk or be further back behind the lead.

The 6 Shadowy (3/1 ML) was near the front last time out in his first race in almost four months and tired. Look for this gelding to try to get the lead here today as he makes his second start off of the layoff.

The 10 Ronnis Second Wind (8/1 ML) won his 2026 debut after stalking the pace and drawing clear. He does look like he could try to stalk from the outside, but that first turn will come up quickly.

The 2 Ovid won a high-tagged claiming race at Thistledown last month after a three-month layoff. He could try to go for the lead from the inner post, but this is the longest he has run in his 10-race career.

Joe’s Pick

This is a race that I think Villian is the class of this field and will defend his title this afternoon. I don’t think there is another horse in this field that is as consistent as he is.

I’m calling this race 9-6-10-2 and my play is $20 to win on the 9.

Thistledown Race 9 – Cleveland Gold Cup

Next up is the Cleveland Gold Cup as three-year-old Ohio bred horses will go a mile and an eighth. Favored is the 3 Mark My Words (2/1 ML). He finished first in the off-the-turf Green Carpet at Belterra Park last month but was disqualified for bumping his foe. He showed he can go for the lead in his first foray around two turns but can run from off the pace as he did in sprints.

The 7 R U Entired (9/2 ML) is a filly taking on the boys here. She won the Queen City Oaks at Belterra last month and looks to win her third race in a row. We will see here today if she will bounce or she matured into the runner that showed up in Cincinnati last month as she closed from the back of the pack to win. Also note her maiden breaker was also against the boys.

The 8 Water Into Wine (5/2 ML) was bumped in the stretch and Belterra was the beneficiary of Mark My Word’s disqualification. He dueled with today’s favorite all the way around and lost by a neck. But the bumps were significant enough to put him up to first.

The 9 Leavetheninetynine (10/1 ML) won his first foray around two turns here at Thistledown as he ralled from the outside to get his head down for the win. Look for a similar late move here this afternoon.

Joe’s Pick

I am very intrigued by R U Enticed here. She went from last to first to win at almost 15/1 at Belterra, and she should get a setup to close from the back of the back again today. If the two favorites replicate their race last time out, don’t be surprised a filly beats the boys here today.

I’m calling this race 7-9-3-8 and my play is $20 to win on the 7. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!