Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Two Phil's will skip the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in favor of the Ohio Derby (G3) June 24 at Thistledown according to trainer Larry Rivelli.
The 3-year-old son of Hard Spun put in his second work since the first leg of the Triple Crown May 28 at Rivelli's Hawthorne Race Course base going five furlongs in :59 4/5 over the main track.
Campaigned in partnership by breeder Phil Sagan, Patricia's Hope, and Madaket Stables, the colt has seemed no worse for the wear after his busy 2023 schedule which includes a second-place finish in the Jan. 21 Lecomte Stakes (G3), third in the Feb. 18 Risen Star Stakes (G2), and a win in the March 25 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3)—his last start before the Kentucky Derby.
Following his impressive finish behind Mage in the Derby, Rivelli was quick to announce that his star pupil would miss the Preakness Stakes (G1) due to the quick turnaround.
In the weeks following, the Two Phil's team declined to commit to the Belmont and said their colt was likely to head to a different race for a summer "tune-up." This will put them on the track to grade 1 company later this year with the July 22 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, and Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course being prime targets.
