Chip Honcho and Ocelli finished 1-2 in the $500,000 Grade 3 Ohio Derby June 20 at Thistledown. The top twosome grabbed the spotlight after finishing third and fourth respectively in the Preakness Stakes in their last starts.

For Chip Honcho, the Ohio Derby was the initial Graded stakes victory, and second career stakes win. It marked his first win in five starts this year.

The Steve Asmussen-trained Chip Honcho stalked the pace throughout the race and earned the win by running down Ocelli by a length. Ocelli finished 3 1/4 lengths clear of Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes winner Trendsetter who finished third.

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Chip Honcho ran the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:51.18 after fractions of :22.72, :47.30, and 1:12.36 set by early leader Robusta. Chip Honcho returned $7.60 to win as the second choice on the tote board behind favored Desert Gate who faded to fourth.

Jockey Jose Ortiz asked Chip Honcho to settle off the leaders in the early going, preserving his energy for the second half of the race. Traffic on the second turn forced Ortiz to be patient as Tyler Gaffalione aboard Ocelli urged his mount forward from the back of the pack to momentarily block an opening for Chip Honcho and stall his momentum.

Once Chip Honcho gathered momentum, however, he had enough to overhaul Ocelli, the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve show finisher, by a length. Ocelli remains a maiden after nine starts.

"Tyler made a good move around the three-eighths pole, so I had to wait for him to go," said Ortiz. "He got the jump on me, and then I had to go around him. And luckily I had the best horse today."

Ortiz added another big 3-year-old win this season after capturing the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets aboard Golden Tempo.

Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe, and John Cilia's Chip Honcho scored for the first time since taking the Gun Runner Stakes in December at Fair Grounds. Since then, he was beaten by high-class 3-year-olds this winter and spring such as Golden Tempo, Paladin, Emerging Market, and Napoleon Solo.

Chip Honcho earned $300,000 for the Ohio Derby victory, elevating his career earnings to $800,475, with a 3-2-1 record in eight starts.