On a day when the Illinois Thoroughbred gets some undivided attention, the six $100,000 stakes for horses foaled and/or conceived in the Prairie State will offer a variety of challenges for the average handicapper. Here is a closer look at the 2007 edition of the Phil Georgeff Festival of Racing to be held Nov. 3.
Race 4 - $100,000 Showtime Deb Stakes, Six Furlongs, 2-year-old Fillies:
The Adam Kitchingman owned and trained Carbella will return to the state where she was foaled and is the 3-1 morning line favorite to make her Hawthorne debut a winning one. All four of her lifetime starts have been in California and the daughter of Cartwright has crossed the wire first, although she was disqualified in her first race for interference. This will be the first time Carbella will race as far as six furlongs, but should be a strong factor throughout. Sarahlinds Sister has won two of her three starts, but more importantly has won over the Hawthorne track. Carts Italian Rose was an impressive maiden winner in her last start while Dodee Gee won her only lifetime start as if she may have a future.
No. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1. Holy Geri, Campbell, Je. Campbell, 8-1
2.Carbella , Emigh, Kitchingham, 3-1
3. Sarahlinds Sister, Silva, Dorris, 7-2
4. My Facts, Thornton, Kirby, 5-1
5. Carts Italian Rose, Ocampo, Delong, 4-1
6. Big Lou, Riggs, Reavis, 6-1
7. Dodee Gee, Graham, Miller, 6-1
Race 5 - $100,000 Lightening Jet Handicap, Six Furlongs, 3-year-olds and up:
As the 125 pound highweight, S. D. Brille, LP’s High Expectation will spot the field anywhere from eight to 15 pounds, as the gelding tries to avenge last year’s defeat as the 6-5 favorite. In 2007, High Expectations has three wins and earnings approaching $150,000. Strategy is simple for this Illinois-bred; trail early and come flying late. Shrewd Operator may be the one to pull off the minor upset. The 3-year-old trained by Chris Block is coming off a third place finish in the Perryville (gr. III) at Keeneland and will race over dirt for the first time. Still, the talented son of Twining could be any sort and we may not have seen his best yet. Fun With Phil was an explosive winner of a maiden race in his last start and Mighty Rule, who along with High Expectation is trained by Christine Janks, are both expected to make their presence felt.
No. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1. I Got a Dream, Razo Jr., Richard, 12-1
2. High Expectations, Emigh, Janks, 7-2
3. Fun With Phil, Ocampo, Margolis, 9-2
4. He’s Hammered, Thornton, Bennett, 8-1
5. Shrewd Operator, Perez, Block, 3-1
6. Just Viareggio, Montalvo, Mendoza 5-1
7. Mighty Rule, Graham,Janks, 6-1
8. Guccione, Sukie, Hellman, 8-1
Race 6 - $100,000 Illini Princess Handicap, One Mile and One Sixteenths, Fillies and Mares, 3-year-olds and up:
The 30th running of the ‘Illini’ is a wide open event with the morning line favorite Ms. Lydonia installed at a tepid 7-2. Ms. Lydonia is coming off a 10th place finish in the Kentucky Cup Distaff, but her prior two starts at Arlington Park point her out as a strong possibility. Defending champion Stop a Train has had only one start in the last two months, but still must be given respect off her previous accomplishments. Budoir was racing in a $10,000 claimer in late summer but off three straight blowout wins, she must be considered a legitimate threat. Dyna Slam, from the powerful Steve Asmussen barn, and Tufted, who when last seen here won the Peach Of It Handicap, may be interesting alternatives.
No. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1. Lampoon, Ocampo, Williamson, 6-1
2. Boudoir, Perez, Gullick, 5-1
3. Ms. Lydonia, Graham, Janks, 7-2
4. Tuffted, Baird Salazar, 30-1
5. Cheyenne Spirit, Campbell, Je. Werner, 15-1
6. Accent, Sanchez, Goldfine, 15-1
7. Stop a Train, Emigh, Janks, 6-1
8. Labar, Nolan, Lindsay, 15-1
9. Dyna Slam, Razo Jr., Asmussen, 9-2
10. Tour d’Aura, Thornton, Yanez, 8-1
Race 7 - $100,000 Buck’s Boy Handicap, One Mile and One Sixteenths, 3-years-old and up
Nancy Vanier’s Win Me Over will be highweight in this spot, carrying a manageable 119 pounds as he tries to make it two straight over the Hawthorne oval, as well as the 1 1/16-mile distance. The Spanky Broussard trained Stonehouse may be the one to beat, as this 3-year-old son of Chester House looks to rebound from a seventh place finish in the Indiana Derby. Before that effort, Stonehouse had run well, finishing first and second in her two prior starts. Stonehouse also ran a game second at Hawthorne in the Land of Lincoln Stakes in the spring. Big Rushlet, from the Janks’ Stable, also deserves a mention as he tries two turns for the first time, a scenario he might appreciate.
No. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1. Whatitsallabout, Ocampo, Richard, 10-1
2. Win Me Over, Wade, Williamson, 4-1
3. He’s Hammered, Perez, Bennett, 10-1
4. Tejano Taylor, Mitchellhill, Ely, 20-1
5. I Got a Dream, Campbell, Je. Richard, 15-1
6. Princeton Hills, Razo Jr., Gabriel, 5-1
7. Mare’s Ex, Baird, DiVito, 8-1
8. Big Rushlet, Emigh, Janks, 7-2
9. Stonehouse, Fires, Broussard, 9-2
Race 8 - $100,000 Sun Power, Six Furlongs, 2-year-old Colts and Geldings
Sam Villardito’s Chief What is perfect in two starts and appears to have a bright future as he steps into stakes company for the first time. At 4-1 on the morning line, this gelded son of Chief Seattle looks to be coming into the race as sharp as can be, with a steady array of morning works indicating continued good form. Rocket Rodd was impressive in his only start, a lengthy score over Arlington’s Polytrack, but that race was in July and it is unknown how well Rocket Rodd will fare over the conventional dirt surface. Spanning the Globe also won his only race by daylight and may be even stronger second time out.
No. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1. Chief What, Sanchez, DiVito, 4-1
2. Holy Vesper, Quinones, Brown, 12-1
3. Billys Bar Buddy, Thornton, Delong, 5-1
4. River Bear, Lagunes, Hellman, 15-1
5. Rocket Rodd, Houghton, Boyce, 9-2
6. Best Buddy, Emigh, Williamson, 8-1
7. Dakota Rebel, Meier, Wainwright, 8-1
8. Soar Slew Soar, Razo Jr., Richard, 6-1
9. Spanning The Globe, Campbell, Je. Richard, 12-1
10. Illini Destiny, Medina, Roberts, 5-1
11. Frostybdancing, Ocampo, Gore, 15-1
Race 9 - $100,000 Powerless Handicap, Six Furlongs, Fillies and Mares, 3-years-old and up
Pretty Jenny annihilated a similar group in last years Powerless Handicap and will carry 125 pounds as she tries for the repeat. Pretty Jenny returned to Hawthorne in an overnight stakes in her last start and promptly won for fun, indicating a defense of her title is entirely possible. Bluesbdancing has gotten the better of Pretty Jenny in a couple of 2007 stakes, and will try to improve on her five-for-eight lifetime mark at Hawthorne. Trout River Red won the Governor’s Lady Handicap in the spring, though she has been away from the races since July 7. Denound N Deverb and Magnetic Miss both figure to vie for the lead and either is capable of upsetting the field with their best effort.
No. Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1. Denoun N Deverb, Nolan, Hellman, 8-1
2. Passionate Kip, Ocampo, Yanez , 20-1
3. Sea Button, McKee, Connelly, 15-1
4. Magnetic Miss, Fires, Broussard, 8-1
5. Bluebdancing, Razo Jr., Gore, 4-1
6. Allys Little Sis, Meier, Zavash, 10-1
7. Modjadji, Graham, Janks, 9-2
8. Trout River Red, Sukie, Ackerman, 5-1
9. Pretty Jenny, Emigh, Janks, 7-2
10. Taylor Madison, Perez, Dini, 10-1