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Mo Tom, ridden by Javier Castellano romped to victory Saturday in the $500,000 Ohio Derby at ThistleDown.

(J.J. Zamaiko Photography)

Javier Castellano aboard Mo Tom, who flies the white, blue and gold silks of GMB Racing, after the 82nd Ohio Derby.

By BOB 'RAILBIRD' ROBERTS

Special to The Plain Dealer

Wedding bells or bugle calls?

Veteran trainer Tom Amoss was torn this weekend. His best friend's daughter was getting married in Colorado and he was expected to be there.

But the wedding was Saturday and Amoss had Mo Tom, one of his favorite pupils, running in the $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

Mo Tom had just endured the most frustrating of Triple Crown campaigns, getting blocked or stopped in four consecutive starts, including the Kentucky Derby.

"I compromised," said Amoss. "I flew out for the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, and then caught a plane yesterday morning for Cleveland. I wasn't going to miss this."

Amoss passed on a slice of wedding cake, but he and Mo Tom got the whole pie at Thistledown, winning the 82nd Ohio Derby in an absolute romp.

"He was running nice and easy," said winning jockey, Javier Castellano. "I was loaded with horse at the 3/8th pole and he really kicked in when I asked him to run."



At the wire, Mo Tom, the even-money favorite, had three lengths on Adventist. Discreet Lover, an 87-1 shot, scrambled for third money.



Mo Tom, who flies the white, blue and gold silks of GMB Racing, ran the Derby's 1-1/8 miles in 1:51 4/5, earned his owners $300,000 and rewarded those who bet him with a $4.20 win mutuel.

"This ends a lot of frustration for us," said Amoss. "I always believed in this horse, and after we had another troubled trip in the Kentucky Derby, I gave him some time off and pointed him for the Ohio Derby."

Amoss also replaced regular rider Corey Lanerie with Castellano, who had been voted North America's top jockey the last three years. Lanerie had been aboard Mo Tom in the bad traffic trips. Following one of them, Amoss lost his patience and scolded the rider.

"I know the horse has been very unlucky," said a diplomatic Castellano. "But it's not easy to ride a horse like this because he is a closer."

Mo Tom broke last in the field of 10 and saved ground along the rail, while Mo Don't Know and Cocked and Loaded dueled on the backstretch. Cocked and Loaded got the lead turning for home, but by then, Castellano had Mo Tom in gear and gaining ground wide of all rivals.

They made the lead at the top of the stretch and then powered away to the convincing score. It was Mo Tom's first victory since Jan. 16 and fourth in nine career starts.

Amoss is unsure of Mo Tom's next start, but said he was looking east, meaning either a rich race at Monmouth or at Saratoga.

"He proved he belongs with the top three year olds," said Amoss. "Could he be the best? You can't be a horse trainer without being a dreamer."