Illinois Derby

Prairie · Postby **Prairie** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:17 pm

Any thoughts on this Saturday's Illinois Derby at Hawthorne?

smeehan · Postby **smeehan** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:52 pm

I like that it's a full field, well almost full at least! They are coming from stakes and allowance wins, so it will be interesting to see who steps up to win. The weather, at least for the moment, is supposed to cooperate with sun and mid-50s.

Ill-bred · Postby **Ill-bred** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:57 pm

Musket Man is a nice, solid horse.

I'd also give Trombetta's Perfect Song a look. He looked like he could be a star in that maiden win.

Hotwalker · Postby **Hotwalker** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:02 pm

Al Khali is intriguing with a solid allowance win at Gulfstream. If there's an honest pace maybe Giant Oak puts it together.

Ill-bred · Postby **Ill-bred** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:37 pm

Giant Oak is whom I'm rooting for...Chi-town connections.

Prairie · Postby **Prairie** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:15 pm

I'm pulling for Giant Oak, too.

I'd also like to see Free Country redeem himself after his poor showing at the Fairgrounds.

smeehan · Postby **smeehan** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:13 pm

I like Giant Oak, too. With a nearly full field, though, I don't like the traffic trouble he may encounter. And if Hawthorne favors speed on Saturday, it makes his task all the more difficult. Still, it would be awesome for the hometown connections, so he gets my vote.

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:44 am

I think Free Country is in . . .anyone think he can rebound?

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:21 am

Few people remembered the one-eyed horse called Pollard Vision's which won the 2004 Illinois derby.

In fact, PV (Sea Biscuit's rider Pollard was blind in one eye and the PV's owner himself has almost matched them) was a
"derby horse", albeit in lower circle :

1st Illinois Derby
1st Lone Star Derby
2nd Ohio Derby
2nd West Virginia Derby
2nd Pennsylvania Derby
3rd Louisiana Derby

One-eyed fellows formed a very small community but some of them raced in Kentucky Derby. Cassaleria finished 13th in the 19-horse
field of the 1982 Run For The Roses. It won the 8.5f El Camino Real Derby and Longacres Derby and ran 3rd in the California Derby.

Prairie · Postby **Prairie** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:20 pm

Toccet02 wrote:I think Free Country is in . . .anyone think he can rebound?

I'm thinking good thoughts for him.

Hotwalker · Postby **Hotwalker** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:19 pm

Giant Oak ran well to be second. And with back to back good wins, Musket Man has joined the conversation with the other top Derby contenders.

Prairie · Postby **Prairie** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:35 pm

It was great to see such a big crowd at Hawthorne! The weather was beautiful and it was an exciting, "party" atmosphere.

I thought Musket Man looked great. He proved he can handle the distance and the dirt. Something to keep in mind next month!

JaradM · Postby **JaradM** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:19 am

Will Giant Oak run in the derby?