Dougie D Oro continued to stamp himself as a major player in the Ohio-bred sprint division, defeating multi-time statebred horse of the year Altissimo for a second time this season in the $100,000 Best of Ohio Honey Jay Stakes on Saturday at Thistledown. The Best of Ohio has evolved into a series of showcases throughout the year at all three of the state’s Thoroughbred tracks to promote the Ohio racing and breeding programs. The series kicked off with stakes at Belterra Park in early June, followed by this summer program at Thistledown. The annual fall showcase program of five season-capping stakes will be held Oct. 29 at Mahoning Valley. Dougie D Oro ($3.60) and Altissimo will surely be among the candidates for the season-ending $100,000 Best of Ohio Sprint if they continue their consistency. Millionaire Altissimo won that race in 2018, 2019, and 2021 to lock up Ohio-bred horse of the year honors. However, it is Dougie D Oro, who won the Honey Jay for the second straight year and who has emerged as a standout this season for owner and trainer Jerry Sparks. After two unplaced outings – one against open company – off a layoff to start 2022, he captured the Best of Ohio Babst/Palacios Memorial Stakes on June 3 at Belterra Park, a race in which Altissimo was pinched back at the start and finished seventh. He then went on to record a win and a second in a pair of Thistledown allowances. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets. In the Honey Jay, Altissimo had a clear shot at his foe, tracking intently in second while Dougie D Oro and Alexander Chavez ticked off opening splits of 22.06 seconds for the opening quarter and a swift 44.60 for the half. Dougie D Oro, ridden by Ricardo Feliciano, kicked clear by four lengths in upper stretch, and although Altissimo continued to try on, cutting the margin to two lengths at the wire, the outcome was never in doubt. The final time for the six furlongs on a fast track was 1:09.22. After the top two, it was 3 3/4 lengths back to Startdfromdabottom in third. Later in the card, I Wanna Win scored a breakthrough win in the $100,000 Best of Ohio Governor's Buckeye Cup. This was the first stakes victory for the gelding, who was second in this race in 2020 and third last year. I Wanna Win ($8), who had Malcolm Franklin in the irons for trainer James Jackson, took over at the quarter pole and drew clear to win by 8 1/4 lengths, easily holding sway over a rallying Forewarned. He finished the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.86. Forewarned, who has won the last three editions of the Best of Ohio Endurance on the fall showcase program, was easily second-best, 5 1/2 lengths clear of Sammy’s Smile.  In other stakes on the program: * I Recall was a determined winner of the $100,000 Best of Ohio Pay the Man Stakes, making all the pace in the 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares and then keeping a game head in front of favored R Three Angels the length of the stretch for a narrow victory. After the top two, it was 1 1/4 lengths to Ohio-bred champion Candlelight Hours in third. I Recall ($7.60), who had Angel Stanley in the irons, ran the distance in 1:51.62. This was the second consecutive stakes victory for the versatile I Recall, trained and co-owned by W. John Bourke. She previously won the Vivacious Handicap on turf. * Fair and Square won the second stakes race of his young career in the $100,000 Best of Ohio Cleveland Kindergarten for juveniles. Fair and Square ($3.20), who races for the homebred partnership for trainer Tim Hamm and WinStar Farm, previously won the Hoover Stakes. He set the pace in the Kindergarten under Jeffrey Sanchez and pulled away unchallenged for a 4 1/2-length win, running the six furlongs in 1:10.84. Grand Isle, also second in the Hoover, was second by 4 1/4 lengths over Sammy and Shorty. * Back to Ohio turned the tables on her foe Lady Lottie for a handy 5 1/2-length score in the $100,000 Best of Ohio Miss Ohio Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Back to Ohio ($3.80), who is trained by Larry Rivelli, had been second by a neck to Lady Lottie in the Tah Dah Stakes on July 8, briefly taking the lead in the stretch before the pacesetter re-rallied. On Saturday, Back to Ohio and Jareth Loveberry stalked Lady Lottie and were second through the opening half, then took command with ease in the stretch. They finished the six furlongs in 1:10.28. Lady Lottie remained a clear second, by four lengths over Sparkling Jewel.