Whiskey Ticket came off the one and only start of his career -- a March 19 maiden special weight victory at first asking at Santa Anita -- and bravely held off Conquest Curlinate to win the $400,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III).
Cross the Line will try to secure his first graded stakes win when he faces an expected eight other 3-year-olds in the Illinois Derby (gr. III) April 15 at Hawthorne Race Course.
American Pharoah put in his final workout for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I), breezing six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 the morning of April 5 at Santa Anita Park
Assistant trainer talks about the Illinois Derby (gr. III) winner on his first morning at Pimlico. Norm also comments on the speed in the race, the plan for Dynamic Impact, and the Illinois Derby win. watch video
Assistant trainer talks about the Illinois Derby (gr. III) winner on his first morning at Pimlico. Norm also comments on the speed in the race, the plan for Dynamic Impact, and the Illinois Derby win.
Hawthorne, Keeneland, Aqueduct, Australia, Japan, Charles Town Races and More. View Slideshow
Dynamic Impact continued trainer Mark Casse's big spring April 19, edging 2-5 favorite Midnight Hawk by the narrowest of noses in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) at Hawthorne Race Course.
TimeformUS Saturday Stakes Plays from Keeneland, Hawthorne, and Aqueduct read blog
Claire Novak and Frank Angst preview the Illinois Derby and the Charles Town Classic. Watch Video
Given the colt's Chicago connections, it's not surprising Bob Baffert would send Midnight Hawk to the April 19 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. As for his plans from there on out, you'll have to read between the lines.
Advance deposit wagering provider Xpressbet will be the sponsor of the Illinois Derby, set to run April 19 at Hawthorne Race Course.
TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I) contender Kid Cruz will miss the $1 million race April 5 due to a sore shoulder, trainer Linda Rice said.
Hawthorne Race Course's spring meet begins Friday, Feb. 21. Sixty-nine horses are entered for the opening day card at the Stickney, Ill., track.
The Illinois Racing Board approved this year's Chicago-area Thoroughbred stakes schedule Jan. 31 despite strong opposition by horsemen to the continuation of one race.
Trainer Al Stall Jr. said the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (gr. III) at Remington Park Sept. 29 will be the last start of the season for Departing, winner of the Sept. 7 Super Derby (gr. II) last time out.
There's no doubt Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's 3-year-old Departing is a talented runner, and he reinforced that point Sept. 7 by winning the $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) by four lengths at Louisiana Downs.
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Illinois Derby (gr. III) winner Departing got his first taste of Pimlico Race Course the morning of May 16 by galloping 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Trina Pasckvale.
GoldMark Farm and Whisper Hill Farm's Mylute, fifth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), is a go for the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), trainer Tom Amoss said the morning of May 11.
Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Departing rolled to a strong 3 1/4-length victory in the $750,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne April 20, proving his class after a third-place finish in the March 30 Louisiana Derby.
Claire Novak and Frank Angst handicap the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland and the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. watch video
The major Kentucky Derby by Yum! Brands preps are finished, but there's still some good 3-year-old racing out there. Let's take a look at the Grade III Coolmore Lexington Stakes and the Grade III Illinois Derby.
It may not be worth points on the road to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), but the $750,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III) drew a packed field of 14, including some familiar names, when entries were taken April 17
Rather than make a last-ditch effort to get Dewey Square into the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Dale Romans said it is likely the colt will be pointed toward the $750,000 Illinois Derby.
Hawthorne Race Course will begin the 2013 live Thoroughbred racing season in the Chicago area Feb. 15 for a 49-day winter/spring meet that concludes April 28.
The Illinois Racing Board Jan. 29 approved an increase in the purse for this year's Illinois Derby (gr. III) at Hawthorne Race Course and a renewal of the $400,000 American St. Leger started last year at Arlington.
In a lawsuit filed last month, Arlington Park contends the Illinois Racing Board acted improperly when it seized 18 simulcast host days and awarded them to rival Hawthorne Race Course.
Steve and Lenny examine the BC Ladies' Classic, Juvenile Fillies, I'll Have Another, Aqueduct and the Illinois Derby. Plus a list of the top 10 things Churchill will do if it take's over NYRA. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. watch video
Evan recaps the Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, Illinois Derby and Ashland Stakes from the weekend. watch video
With Sheldon Russell aboard for trainer Hamilton Smith, Skeedattle Stable's Done Talking ran down Morgan's Guerrilla in the final yards to post a 12-1 upset in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III) April 7 at Hawthorne.
Three big Kentucky Derby preps are on tap on Saturday from around the country. read blog
In what is easily the most wide-open field of all the final Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) preps, the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III) drew a full field of 14 for the April 7 event at Hawthorne Race Course.
It's possible Todd Pletcher will have just one Kentucky Derby horse, and the name of that horse is Our Entourage.
Mike Repole is taking the son of Street Cry to the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III), where he will try to gain a berth in the May 5 Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
A cheat sheet from Jason Shandler for the remaining Derby preps. read blog
Zayat Stables colt will make his second career start in grade II race at Hawthorne.
Hawthorne Race Course opens its spring meet Feb. 17 with higher purses, a lot more horses on the grounds and a hopeful eye on both the weatherman and the state Capitol.
The Illinois Racing Board Sept. 27 rejected a 2011 racing dates proposal that would have eliminated the spring meet at Hawthorne Race Course, including the grade III Illinois Derby.
OK, Uncle Mo lost the Wood Memorial; time to move on. Read Blog
A huge weekend of racing like this, which includes three Derby preps and opening weekend of Keeneland, needs little introduction. Let's get right to it. Read Blog
A review of the Florida Derby, the Dream Big Moment with Robert LaPenta, owner of Dialed In, and a look at the three preps for the weekend: Wood Memorial, Illinois Derby, and Santa Anita Derby. Watch Video
Horse Racing Radio Network will broadcast live from Santa Anita Park on Saturday, April 9, with exclusive radio coverage of the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).
A little more than three weeks ago Watch Me Go was dismissed at odds of 47-1 in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II). Now, the son of West Acre is the horse to beat in the $300,000 TVG Illinois Derby (gr. III).
The partnership between Hawthorne Race Course and TVG for the Illinois Derby (gr. III) has allowed for the purse for the race to be increased from $250,000 to $300,000.
The site of old Sportsman's Park in Illinois will complete a kind of weird full circle with plans to build a new headquarters for Wirtz Beverage Illinois on the suburban Chicago acreage.
Churchill Downs' official list of Kentucky Derby contenders by graded stakes earnings as of April 5.
Let's concentrate on the obvious: Sidney's Candy, Eskendereya were impressive; WinStar Farm could have as many as five starters.
American Lion ran the race his connections have been waiting for all season April 3, taking the field in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III) all the way around to score by 2 3/4 lengths.
Any horse moving on to the Kentucky Derby from the Grade I Wood Memorial will be deprived of competing against a large field on Saturday. Aside from that, this could turn into a rider's race and odd things could happen.
Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of twinspires.com preview the Wood Memorial (gr. I), the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), and the Illinois Derby (gr. III). Watch Video
Backtalk has already amassed more than $170,000 in graded earnings, which is likely already enough to secure him a slot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) starting gate.
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