Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Kentucky Derby Prep Race Results: American Lion Wins The Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course
Posted on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010
WinStar Farm, LLC’s American Lion made every stride a winning one in Saturday’s 53rd running of the $500,000 Illinois Derby (G3) at Hawthorne Race Course April 3.
Trained by Eoin Harty, American Lion broke from the inside post, seized immediate control and was able to hold favored Yawanna Twist safe despite repeated challenges.
“He bobbled a little bit at the start”, said jockey David Flores, “but he got his feet right back under him and went right to the lead. He started looking around but I was pretty confident.”
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Kentucky Derby Prep Race Results: Musket Man Wins Illinois Derby at Hawthorne April 4
Posted on Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Eric Fein and Vic Carlson’s Kentucky Derby contender Musket Man won by 2 lengths over Giant Oak in Saturday’s 52nd running of the $500,000 Illinois Derby (G2) April 4 at Hawthorne Race Course finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.91.
It was 5 lengths back to longshot His Greatness who was well clear for third.
The Illinois Derby win came on the heels of a game score in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and had the connections, including trainer Derek Ryan and jockey Eibar Coa, thinking the 2009 Kentucky Derby is the next stop for Musket Man.
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Kentucky Derby Prep Race: Illinois Derby Entries at Hawthorne April 4
Posted on Monday, March 30th, 2009
Tampa Bay Derby winner Musket Man will face 10 race horses in Saturday’s $500,000 Illinois Derby (G2), a prep race for the Kentucky Derby 135, April 4 at Hawthorne Race Course.
The 2009 Illinois Derby winner’s share of $300,000 would assure that money will be no issue for wanting to be part of the Kentucky Derby field.
Raced at 1 1/8 miles, Hawthorne’s Illinois Derby entries all carrying 122 pounds with jockeys and morning line odds in post position order:
- Nowhere to Hide under jockey Paco Lopez with morning line odds of 5-1
- Giant Oak under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, 9-2
- Lord Justice under jockey Christopher Decarlo, 8-1
- Toccet Rocket under jockey Tanner Riggs, 20-1
- His Greatness under jockey Larry Sterling, Jr, 20-1
- Perfect Song under jockey Jeremy Rose, 6-1
- Free Country under jockey Eusebio Razo, Jr., 6-1
- Musket Man under jockey Eibar Coa, 7-2
- Al Khali under jockey Cornelio Velasquez C, 6-1
- Il Postino under jockey Jesse Campbell, 20-1
- Knight Shot under jockey Inez Karlsson, 30-1
The Illinois Derby is race 7 in Hawthorne’s April 4 card. Illinois Derby post time is 4:15 pm Central.
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Recapturetheglory Wins Illinois Derby
Posted on Saturday, April 5th, 2008
On Saturday afternoon at Hawthorne Race Course, Recapturetheglory dismissed at odds of more than 15-1, led start to finish and emerged victorious in the 51st running of the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II), one of the 2008 Kentucky Derby prep races. At the wire, Recapturetheglory was four lengths clear of Golden Spikes, Z Humor was third.
Denis of Cork, the even money favorite and one of the leading 2008 Kentucky Derby horses, was looking for this fourth win without a defeat but became a soundly beaten fifth.
Trained by Louie Roussel III and co-owned with Ronald Lemarque, Recapturetheglory is named in honor of the glorious campaign of their 1988 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winner, Risen Star.
Recapturetheglory returned $33.80 to win, $15.60 to place and $10.00 to show. Golden Spikes paid $6.80 and $5.40. Z Humor returned $4.80.
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Denis of Cork To Race In The 2008 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course
Posted on Monday, March 31st, 2008
The undefeated Denis of Cork was installed the morning line 2-1 favorite, and will head a field of seven three-year-olds, for the 51st running of the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II), this Saturday, April 5 at Hawthorne Race Course.
Denis of Cork has not raced since improving his lifetime record to a perfect three-for-three, after a convincing win on February 18, in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. His owners Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren of Tulsa and trainer David Carroll opted to bypass the Rebel Stakes in favor of a single prep leading to the 2008 Kentucky Derby, and that prep lands the son of Harlan’s Holiday in Chicago.
Atoned figures to offer Denis of Cork the most serious challenge. Atoned comes off a hard fought neck loss to Big Truck in the Tampa Bay Derby, making it four consecutive second place finishes, all in stakes competition. Todd Pletcher trains the son of Repent, for Dogwood Stables.
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2008 Illinois Derby Final Nominations
Posted on Sunday, March 30th, 2008
Entries for Hawthorne Race Course‘s 51st running of the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II), one of the major 2008 Kentucky Derby prep races, for three-year-olds won’t be drawn until Monday, March 31, but from the looks of the nominations, it is shaping into a deep and competitive field with many of the nation’s top trainers and horses participating.
Certainly a horseman like Eclipse award winning trainer Todd Pletcher has the Illinois Derby on his national radar. Pletcher won this race last year with Cowtown Cat and this year it is likely that Atoned will represent the powerful Pletcher stable. Horse trainer Pletcher has also nominated three other colts, and it is possible that recent allowance winner, Spurrier, will be entered as well.
As for Atoned, this son of Repent comes off of two narrow losses in both the Grade 2, Remsen, where he was beaten a neck by Court Vision, (Illinois Derby nominee) and in the Grade 3, Tampa Bay Derby, when Big Truck (Illinois Derby nominee) also necked out Atoned in a thrilling stretch duel.
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Hawthorne’s 2008 Stakes Races Schedule Released
Posted on Thursday, December 13th, 2007
Hawthorne Race Course announced its 2008 stakes schedule after final approval from the Illinois Racing Board. Both the Spring and Fall meets are included.
The spring season, which commences on Friday, March 7, will as usual be highlighted by the $500,000 Grade II Illinois Derby to be contested on Saturday, April 5.
2007 Illinois Derby winner Cowtown Cat went on to compete in this year’s Kentucky Derby, and in many prior years, the Illinois Derby has been a significant prep to the Run for the Roses.
In 2001, War Emblem won the Illinois Derby and then proceeded to capture both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in his next starts. 2006 Illinois Derby Winner Sweetnorthernsaint was the Kentucky Derby post time favorite in his next start, but finished seventh.
One significant change in the spring stakes schedule is in the form of a name change.
On April 19, the inaugural $200,000 Grade III Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap will be the new name of the race formerly known as the National Jockey Club Handicap. The race is in memory of Bill Hartack, the five-time Kentucky Derby winner who passed away last month. The race is for colts and geldings three-years old and up.
The Grade III $200,000 Sixty Sails for fillies and mares three-years old and up will also be run on April 19. 2007 winner, Kettleoneup, later went to Churchill Downs and captured the Grade II Falls City Handicap.
The Illinois Breds will continue to have their day in the sun as well, when Illinois Champions Day returns on Saturday April 26. Six $100,000 stakes restricted to state-bred Thoroughbreds will highlight the card.
In all, $1,575,000 in stakes purses will be offered in the spring, which includes the $75,000 Jim M. Levitch Illinois Owners Handicap, set for its initial run on Illinois Derby Day.
Hawthorne Spring 2008 Stakes Schedule
- 4/5/08: $500,000 Illinois Derby (Grade II); 3-Year-Olds; 1-1/8 Miles
- 4/5/08: $75,000 Jim M. Levitch Illinois Owners Handicap; 3-Year-Olds & Up; 6 Furlongs
- 4/19/08: $200,000 Bill Hartack Memorial Handicap (Grade III) (Formerly named National Jockey Club Handicap (Grade III)); 3-Year-Olds & Up; 1-1/8 Miles
- 4/19/08: $200,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (Grade III); 3-Year-Olds & Up F&M; 1-1/8 Miles
- 4/19/08: $100,000 Lady Hallie (IL); 3-Year-Old Fillies (IL); 6 Furlongs
- 4/26/08: $100,000 Land Of Lincoln (IL); 3-Year-Olds (IL); 6 Furlongs
- 4/26/08: $100,000 Governor’s Lady Handicap (IL); 4-Year-Olds & Up F&M (IL); 6 Furlongs
- 4/26/08: $100,000 Chicagoland Handicap (IL); 4-Year-Olds & Up (IL); 6 Furlongs
- 4/26/08: $100,000 Peach Of It Handicap (IL); 3-Year-Olds & Up F&M (IL); 1-1/16 Miles
- 4/26/08: $100,000 Milwaukee Avenue Handicap (IL); 3-Year-Olds & Up (IL); 1-1/16 Miles
When the fall meet begins on Friday, September 26, Hawthorne will be poised for the $500,000, Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup, which will take place the next day, Saturday, September 27.
The prestigious event for equines three-years old and up has attracted some of the finest horses in recent years, including this year’s winner, Student Council. Following his powerful “Gold Cup” win, Student Council ventured overseas and competed in the $2.3-million Japan Dirt Cup. A.P. Arrow, who finished third to Student Council, promptly went to Churchill Downs and won the Grade II Clark Handicap.
The Hawthorne Gold Cup, in its own right an important race, has consistently been used as a stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup and other significant autumn races.
“We’ll continue to keep the Gold Cup in the national spotlight by providing a lucrative purse and a timeframe that will allow this race to always be an ideal prep for the Breeders’ Cup,” said President and General Manager Tim Carey. “The race has already establishing a pretty good history and I look forward to its continued success.”
Two other stakes races will continue to be a part of Hawthorne Gold Cup day, both of them on grass.
The $100,000 Indian Maid Handicap for fillies and mares three-years old and up and the Grade III Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap will be co-features on the undercard.
Turf sensation and recent winner of the $2-million Canadian International, Cloudy’s Knight, competed in the Robert F. Carey in 2006.
Other stakes for the fall session include the $250,000 Grade III Hawthorne Derby for three-year old grass specialists. This year’s victor was Bold Hawk, a well-bred runner with a bright future. The race is scheduled for Saturday, October 11.
The Phil Georgeff Festival of Racing will return on Saturday, November 1, and will give Illinois bred Thoroughbreds another opportunity for black type, with six $100,000 races.
Two-year old Illinois Breds will get a chance to stretch their young legs beyond a sprint, in the Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante and the Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity, for the girls and boys respectively.
The $75,000 Mary D. Keim Illinois Owners Stakes will be a new addition to the fall program and will be run on Hawthorne Derby Day.
Hawthorne Fall 2008 Stakes Schedule
- 9/27/08: $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (GR II); 3-Year-Olds & Up; 1-1/4 Miles
- 9/27/08: $100,000 Indian Maid Handicap; 3-Year-Olds & Up F&M; 1-1/16 Miles (T)
- 9/27/08: $150,000 Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap (GR III); 3-Year-Olds & Up; 1 Miles (T)
- 10/11/08: $250,000 Hawthorne Derby (GR III); 3-Year-Olds; 1-1/8 Miles (T)
- 10/11/08 $75,000 Mary D. Keim Illinois Owners Stakes; 3 Year-Olds & Up F&M; 1 Mile (T)
- 11/1/08: $100,000 Powerless Handicap (IL); 3-Year-Olds & Up F&M (IL); 6 Furlongs
- 11/1/08: $100,000 Lightning Jet Handicap (IL); 3-Year-Olds & Up (IL); 6 Furlongs
- 11/1/08: $100,000 Illini Princess Handicap (IL); 3-Year-Olds & Up F&M (IL); 1-1/16 Miles
- 11/1/08: $100,000 Buck’s Boy Handicap (IL); 3-Year-Olds & Up (IL); 1-1/16 Miles
- 11/1/08: $100,000 Showtime Deb Stakes (IL); 2-Year-Old Fillies (IL); 6 Furlongs
- 11/1/08: $100,000 Sun Power Stakes (IL); 2-Year-Olds C&G (IL); 6 Furlongs
- 12/6/08: $100,000 Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante (IL); 2-Year Old Fillies (IL); 1-1/16 Miles
- 12/13/08: $100,000 Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity (IL); 2-Year-Olds C&G (IL); 1-1/16 Miles
This post was modified from Hawthorne’s release.
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