Brendan Walsh was the winning trainer when the Illinois Derby was last contested in 2017. Veteran James Graham piloted Multiplier home from off the pace to victory. After a six-year hiatus, the race is back offering up a spot in the Preakness Stakes starting gate in addition to the lions’ share of the $200,000 purse. The feature on the 9-race card goes as Race 8 and makes up the third leg of the Sunday afternoon Late Pick 4 at Hawthorne Race Course.

Race 6:

The pace should be contentious in this beaten $5k claimer at 5.5 furlongs over the main track given the presence of #1 Bourbon Teddy, #4 Gallant Buck, and #9 Robust. #8 Time Heist took advantage of a great setup off the layoff last out against similar on March 31st. He should get a favorable race shape again for his off the pace style. He is a must use, but I will also include #7 Risky Boy who had an overall good trip in the race won by Time Heist last month, but moved a little too early under Rishawn Blanche. If Blanche can time things a bit better, this Arkansas-bred gelding has a chance to spring the upset.


Race 7:

#1 Richiesonaroll ships in from Keeneland after a speed and fade effort off the bench earlier this month in the Commonwealth (G3). The Illinois-bred was in his over his head in Kentucky fifteen days ago, but finds a much softer spot here. If jockey Emmanuel Giles can get this one out of the gate in good order, he is likely to prove very tough to catch. However, if the 9-5-morning line choice takes heat early, it could set things up for #6 Silent Sunday. The Silent Name gelding has not raced over dirt since early last summer, but put in a strong late run over the all-weather at Turfway Park in his first try for new trainer Billy Morey. He is 4 for 12 and fits well if he takes to the surface switch.


Race 8:

It is great to see the Illinois Derby back! The Preakness Stakes qualifier presented by 1/ST Bet drew a compact field of six led by 5-2-morning line favorite #4 Woodcourt. The son of Ransom the Moon proved to be a strong claim for Cipriano Contreras immediately rattling off a win versus allowance foes in his three-year-old debut. From there, Contreras gave him two shots against graded stakes foes where he did not disgrace himself at all at big odds. Woodcourt is a little tough for me to trust at 1 1/8 miles, but he is the likeliest winner nonetheless.

#1 Real Men Violin is likely to take a lot of support based on the competition he has kept, but his lone win came at one-turn over an off track. Finishing second to Kentucky Derby probable Honor Marie in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) back in November is a solid resume builder, but he had a favorable voyage that day and has been unable to build on it thus far in 2024. I am less excited about his chances and will not be surprised if he gets over bet exiting two serious Kentucky Derby preps down in New Orleans.
Trying to steal it on the front end looks challenging given the presence of both #2 Patriot Spirit and #6 Ravin’s Town, while #5 Le Gris attracts Jareth Loveberry and could get an honest pace to run at, but finished eighth in his lone dirt try.

Tough call on how to handle things here from a horizontal perspective. I will single Woodcourt on one ticket and get some coverage on my other.


Race 9:

#6 Gimme the Candy aims to make it two in a row off the break for Larry Rivelli. Rivelli has been smoking hot at Hawthorne dating back to April 7th winning with 5 of his 9 starters. This $75,000 OBS April 2023 purchase has done little wrong in his two tries over the main track. If he is able to clear like he did in his maiden breaker, he could be tough to deny, but things could get interesting if #1 Larry the Poet or #8 Purple Octopus make the Rivelli charge work early on the stretch out to 6 furlongs.

#7 Little Seven appears likeliest to take advantage if we get a lively early tempo shipping in from Florida for Cheryl Winebaugh. He has done his best running on the sod, but the cutback and a contentious pace make him an intriguing option to close out the Illinois Derby card. I will single Little Seven on my ticket spreading in the Illinois Derby and use both Gimme the Candy and Little Seven on my ticket singled to the morning line choice in the feature.

Good luck!