Third in last month's GI Preakness Stakes, Chip Honcho (Connect) put in a gusty stretch-length drive to deny longtime maiden Ocelli (Connect) in Saturday's GIII Ohio Derby and top the exacta for their Lane's End-based sire.A player on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the 5-2 favorite spent his late winter and spring in New Orleans for trainer Steve Asmussen, running in all four points races at Fair Grounds.Despite winning the Gun Runner Stakes Dec. 20 and placing second in the GII Risen Star Stakes Feb. 14 (beating future Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo {Curlin}), Chip Honcho was kept out of the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs by design and pointed instead to the Preakness.Third at Laurel Park, Asmussen opted to keep Chip Honcho at the shorter 1 1/8-mile distance and the colt entered Saturday's starting gate favored ahead of Bob Baffert-trainee Desert Gate (Omaha Beach).Away in good order past the stands with a lap remaining, jockey Jose Ortiz had to slam on the breaks into the first turn as his racing lane got pinched by Desert Gate shifting over to save ground from the outside post. Able to settle a joint third behind a pair of early leaders that also included Robusta (Accelerate), he would need a seam as runners on his outside boxed the favorite in against the rail on the run into the far turn.Tipping out as best he could to follow the move of Ocelli who was clear to his outside and already rolling, Chip Honcho needed every bit of stretch to run that rival down, finally prevailing in the closing yards to deny Ocelli his diploma and pick up his first graded stakes win.Pedigree Note:Connect, who was announced as a new addition to the roster at Seyda Ercan Stable in Turkey just three weeks ago, now sits at eight individual graded stakes winner with Chip Honcho his second colt to achieve the mark (joining GISW Rattle N Roll).The second living foal out of a stakes-winning mare who has two winners from as many to the track, he was a $210,000 acquisition by Lee Ackerley at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale.Miss My Rose, herself the daughter of a mare with a perfect eight-for-eight broodmare record, visited Pinehurst and Yaupon respectively but failed to produce a live foal in either 2024 or 2025. She did report a filly by Muth this spring.#3 CHIP HONCHO ($7.60) ran down Ocelli in the stretch to win the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at @JACKThistledown. The son of Connect (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by @jose93_ortiz and is trained by Steve Asmussen. pic.twitter.com/yaLW3ezQym— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 20, 2026Saturday, ThistledownOHIO DERBY-GIII, $500,000, Thistledown, 6-20, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:51.18, ft.1–CHIP HONCHO, 126, c, 3, by Connect 1st Dam: Miss My Rose (SW), by Magician (Ire) 2nd Dam: Ava G, by Afternoon Deelites 3rd Dam: Affirmed Miss, by Affirmed1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($210,000 Ylg '24 FTKJUL). O-Leland Ackerley Racing, LLC, Sherwood, James, Shupe, Jode and Cilia, John; B-Venneri Racing Inc. & Tony Fanticola (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $300,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 8-3-2-1, $800,475. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.2–Ocelli, 126, c, 3, Connect–Zalia, by Scat Daddy. ($12,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT). O-Durr, Ashley, Tate, Anthony and Front Page Equestrian, LLC; B-Rosedown Racing Stables, LLC (KY); T-D. Whitworth Beckman. $100,000.3–Trendsetter, 126, g, 3, Modernist–Suyapa, by Astrology. ($22,000 Ylg '24 KEEJAN; $25,000 Ylg '24 EASOCT; $130,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR; $725,000 RNA 3yo '26 KEEAPR). O-Davant Latham; B-Circle B Family Farm (KY); T-Ben Colebrook. $50,000.Margins: 1, 3 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.80, 5.10, 20.90.Also Ran: Desert Gate, Chad Allan, Bull by the Horns, Albus, Robusta, Jupiter. Scratched: Zihnal.Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.The post Chip Honcho A Determined Winner Of The Ohio Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.