Former stablemates square off

Leona’s Reward defeated her former stablemate Eight the hardway by a nose in last year’s $75,000 George Lewis Memorial for Ohio-accredited Thoroughbreds. Since then, the two have taken divergent paths and found differing fortunes, but they will meet again in Saturday’s renewal at Thistledown, one of two state showcase stakes on the undercard of the Grade 3 Ohio Derby.

Since winning last year’s Lewis Memorial, Leona’s Reward has won five times from seven outings for trainer and co-owner Tim Hamm. She comes into her defense in the 1 1/8-mile race off three straight stakes victories in the Ohio Debutante, Bobbie Bricker Memorial Handicap, and Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial Stakes, all under regular rider Pablo Morales, who keeps the mount Saturday. Leona’s Reward showed no rust in the Classen Memorial, her first start of 2018 following a five-month break.

In the same calendar year, meanwhile, Eight the hardway has one win from 10 starts, that coming in the Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Handicap last November. He finished third in the Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap in May at Thistledown, his first start since being transferred to trainer Glenroy Brown. In his most recent outing, he was seventh in a one-mile allowance race at Thistledown. Terry Houghton will be in the irons on the veteran gelding.

Leona’s Reward, by Parents’ Reward, was bred by Hamm under the banner of Blazing Meadows Farm, which co-owns her with Michael Friedman. Blazing Meadows also bred and initially campaigned Eight the hardway, but Paul Groves and trainer Richard Vickers claimed him for $20,000 in March 2016.

Later in the day, Thistledown cards the $75,000 J. William Petro Memorial Handicap at 1 1/16-miles for Ohio-bred fillies and mares. A field of six is headed by multiple stakes winners School Board Prez, Nikki My Darling, and Proper Discretion. School Board Prez and Nikki My Darling are looking to rebound after finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Michael G. Mackey Memorial Angenora Stakes last out. Meanwhile, Proper Discretion is coming off a four-length allowance win at Thistledown.