By Joe Quillen
Sunday 4/21 – Hawthorne Race Course Race 8 – Illinois Derby
Happy Sunday everyone, and we have the second Preakness win and you’re in race here as we welcome back the return of the Illinois Derby, as Hawthorne brings back this mile and an eighth race that returns for the first time since 2017. Post time for today’s featured race will be approximately 6:56 pm ET.
Unfortunately, we have a short field of six, but that’s okay, we will still look at this race and try to get another winner here. It’s our first time in Chicago this year, and yes, I miss Arlington Park A LOT!
The 4 Woodcourt is the 5/2 morning line favorite here and was last seen finishing fourth on the synthetic track in the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. He got bumped around a little bit there with about a half mile to go, but he wasn’t catching Endlessly¸ who I consider a synthetic track specialist, that day. He didn’t run that bad of a race last time out despite the trouble.
The 1 Real Men Violin (3/1 ML) did not show much in his two races at the Fair Grounds since his return to the races, but he is getting some class relief here in this race. He also will have a much shorter field here today as opposed to the 11 or 12 horses in the last two races. He should be able to run like he did last November in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.
The 3 Raguel (6/1 ML) did not impress me much with his third-place finish on March 1. He wasn’t able to keep up with the leader and the winning horse who blew by both of them. But this is a different race here.
The 5 Le Gris (7/2 ML) broke his maiden off the turf, and then he won a race that was taken off the turf at Fair Grounds. He couldn’t keep up with the horses in the Rushaway at Turfway Park, but he was only three lengths behind the winner in the end. It wasn’t an eye-popping performance, but it wasn’t a race where you see a horse drop anchor and finish near the ambulance. This may be better than you think.
The 6 Ravin’s Town (6/1 ML) returned to the races after a 9-month break and couldn’t hold on to the lead going five and a half furlongs. I get the feeling this horse is a “race filler” as I like to call these horses where these horses are entered so that the race will be run. If he can’t win a maiden race at five and a half furlongs, albeit against older horses, how is he supposed to win a stakes race with some Triple Crown nominees?
Finally, the 2 Patriot Spirit (4/1 ML) is third race off of a layoff, but he looks like a sprinter in a nine-furlong race. His wins are at seven furlongs in his debut and a minor stakes winner at Tampa Bay in December. He showed little in the Sam F. Davis and Tampa, and I think that will be the case here with this horse as well.
I think in a race that was very tough to handicap, I’ll take the 1 Red Men Violin to win this race here. His best chance is to be not far off from Ravin’s Town If he guns for the lead like I expect. I’ll call this 1-4-5-3 and my play is $20 to wn on the 1. Good luck everyone!