Illinois Derby

Notes:
Omitted by Churchill Downs from its rightful place among prep races offering Kentucky Derby qualifying points, the G3 Illinois Derby has been repositioned as a springboard to the G1 Preakness S. in one month. Four of this year s entrants - Verraco, Cross the Line, A. Rod Again and Private Prospect - are nominated to the classics and could turn up in Baltimore if successful here. California Derby hero Cross the Line invades from California after finishing fifth of six in the G1 Santa Anita Derby. He won t face the likes of unbeaten Dortmund in this spot and figures to attract plenty of support at the windows. Verraco is just half a length from winning three straight and prevailed by a neck in an optional claimer at Santa Anita when last seen on Feb. 27. Private Prospect has raced in six stakes in his eight starts, winning two of those last year at Prairie Meadows. But the Discreet Cat colt has been off-the-board in his last four starts. A. Rod Again broke his maiden in his second race at Churchill Downs in early November then was drubbed in the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3. Sent to Fair Grounds after that, he finished second and fourth in two optional claiming contests. Phenomenal Phoenix unsuccessfully tried stakes company twice and enters off a career best effort in which the gelding won an Oaklawn Park allowance. Kantune was two and a half lengths behind Phenomenal Phoenix in that March 26 event but trounced in his only previous stakes try, the G3 Southwest S. in Hot Springs on Feb. 22. Conquest Curlinate broke his maiden at Oaklawn in January then failed as the favorite when third there in a February allowance race. Whiskey Ticket, who made a winning debut with a hard-fought effort at Santa Anita last month, could give trainer Bob Baffert a Derby victory before he heads to Louisville with a trio of threats for the first Saturday in May. Lewys Vaporizer stretches out off a dazzling 6F maiden romp on this oval last month.

Illinois Derby Past Winners

Year	Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Owner	Time
2014	Dynamic Impact	Mark E. Casse	Miguel Mena	John C. Oxley	1:49.07
2013	Departing	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	Brian J. Hernandez, Jr.	Claiborne Farm	1:50.78
2012	Done Talking	Hamilton Smith	Sheldon Russell	Skeedattle Stable	1:53.88
2011	Joe Vann	Todd Pletcher	Florent Geroux	Zayat Stable	1:51:91
2010	American Lion	Eoin G. Harty	David Flores	WinStar Farm	1:51:31
2009	Muskett Man	Derek S. Ryan	Eibar Coa	Eric Fein/Vic Carlson	1:49.91
2008	Recapturetheglory	Louie Roussel III	E. T. Baird	L. Roussel III/Ronald Lamarque	1:49.01
2007	Cowtown Cat	Todd A. Pletcher	Fernando Jara	WinStar Farm	1:51.21

Illinois Derby Video