Hawthorne Race Course
Contact : Jim Miller (708) 780-3671
For Immediate Release
Hansen, Union Rags Headline List of Early Illinois Derby Nominations
STICKNEY, IL – Early Nominations for the Grade 3, $500,000 Illinois Derby closed on February 3 as 91 horses were nominated for the 1 1/8 Mile Dirt Event to be run on Saturday, April 7. The Illinois Derby has traditionally been a stepping stone for horses as a final prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. After running for a $300,000 purse in 2011, funds from the impact fees released in the fall of 2011 have allowed for the purse to be reinstated to the traditional $500,000 for the Illinois Derby.
The top two finishers for the Eclipse Award voting for two-year-old colts from 2011 are among the nominations as Hansen and Union Rags top the list. Following his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victory, Hansen made his three-year-old debut in the slop, running second in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream on January 29. After his near miss in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Union Rags is pointed towards his return in the Fountain of Youth.
Numerous graded stakes winners are among the early nominations for the Illinois Derby including: Alpha, winner of the Grade 3 Withers; Currency Swap, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful; Dullahan, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity; Motor City, winner of the Grade 3 Iroquois; Out of Bounds, winner of the Grade 3 Sham; Prospective, winner of the Grade 3 Grey; State of Play, winner of the Grade 2 With Anticipation; and undefeated filly Now I Know, winner of the Grade 3 Delta Princess.
In addition to the Grade 3 Illinois Derby, older horses will have a stakes opportunity with the return of the $60,000 added Cryptoclearance to be contested at 1 1/16 Miles on the dirt.
Late nominations for the Illinois Derby close on Saturday, March 24.
The full list of early Illinois Derby Nominations:
ADIRONDACK KING MarchFore Thoroughbreds John C. Servis
AFFORD Jim Tafel, LLC (James B. Tafel) Greg Geier
ALL STORMY Jim Tafel, LLC (James B. Tafel) Greg Geier
ALPHA Godolphin Racing, LLC Kiaran P. McLaughlin
APPREHENDER Dream Farm LLC Ingrid Mason
ARM FORCE Casner Racing, LP Eoin G. Harty
ATIGUN Shortleaf Stable, Inc. (John Ed Anthony) Kenneth G. McPeek
ATLANTIC TITAN Stoneway Farm LLC (James L. Stone) Bernard S. Flint
BIG MONSTER Thomas L. Oliff Michael J. Trombetta
BLUEDACIOUS WinStar Farm, LLC (Kenny Troutt) Mark E. Casse
BOLD FRONT Jay Em Ess Stable (Mace Siegel) Paul J. McGee
CAPETOWN DEVIL David R. Randal David M. Carroll
CASUAL TRICK Robert V. LaPenta Nicholas P. Zito
CONSERVE John C. Oxley Mark E. Casse
CONSORTIUM Godolphin Racing, LLC Kiaran P. McLaughlin
COP A TUDE High Five Racing Stables, II, LLC H. Graham Motion
CURRENCY SWAP Klaravich Stables, Inc.& William Lawrence Teresa M. Pompay
DEFIANT FLYER Double D. Stables, Inc.& Steve Lewis Liane P. Davis
DESERT STORM WinStar Farm, LLC (Kenny Troutt) William I. Mott
DONE TALKING Skeedattle Stable Hamilton A. Smith
DULLAHAN Donegal Racing Dale L. Romans
DYNAMICAL John C. Oxley Mark E. Casse
ELUSIVE SUCCESS Green Hills Farm, Inc. Michael R. Matz
EVER SO LUCKY Augustin Stable Jonathan E. Sheppard
FASTESTWHOGETSPAID Oak Knoll Farm & Team Wilcox Brian Williamson
FINNEGANS WAKE Donegal Racing Dale L. Romans
FLASHY SUNRISE West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. Dallas Stewart
FRISCAN Dunbarton Stable, LLC H. Graham Motion
GAELIC BREEZE Eagle Valley Farm (John F. Haran) John F. Haran
GILDED QUEST Dale B. Wessels Thomas H. Swearingen
GOLD MEGILLAH West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. H. Graham Motion
HAKAMA Harry C. & Tom O. Meyerhoff Michael J. Trombetta
HANSEN Kendall Hansen & Sky Chai Racing Michael J. Maker
HOLY HIGHWAY Liam Benson Derek S. Ryan
HOWE GREAT Team Valor International (Barry Irwin) H. Graham Motion
ILL CONCEIVED S. M. D., Ltd. John C. Servis
JUNEBUGRED Joanne & Alex Lieblong Steve Hobby
KING KID Ronald E. McKee Dale L. Romans
LAURIE'S ROCKET Willis D. Horton Dallas Stewart
LONGVIEW DRIVE Steve Beneto Jerry Hollendorfer
LUCKY CHAPPY (IRE) Team Valor International (Barry Irwin) H. Graham Motion
MACHO MACHO Jerry Durant Neil J. Howard
MAJESTIC STRIDE Rusty Brown, Philip Lebherz & Alan Klein Jeff Bonde
MARCHING ORDERS Woodford Racing, LLC Neil J. Howard
MCKINLEY SQUARE Darley Stable (Richard Nunnelley, et al) Kiaran P. McLaughlin
MIDNIGHT TRANSFER Warren B. Williamson Carla Gaines
MONARCHIC Gold Mark Farm LLC (Theodore P. Bulmahn) Eoin G. Harty
MOON TRAVELER John C. Oxley Mark E. Casse
MORGAN'S GUERRILLA Thomas, Conway, Thorton & Carter Michael J. Maker
MOTOR CITY Lantern Hill Farm, LLC Ian R. Wilkes
MR. PRANKSTER F. Thomas Conway & Michael J. Maker Michael J. Maker
NAJJAAR Shadwell Stable (Rick Nichols) Daniel C. Peitz
NECK 'N NECK A. Stevens Miles, Jr. Ian R. Wilkes
NEWS PENDING Klaravich Stables, Inc.& William Lawrence Dale L. Romans
NOW I KNOW Don Von Hemel & Wayne O. Stockseth Don Von Hemel
OUT OF BOUNDS Darley Stable (Richard Nunnelley, et al) Eoin G. Harty
PATRIOTICANDPROUD Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & G. Barber Mark E. Casse
PHANTOM FURY Smokey Lynne Bare & Ira P. Mersack Michael E. Lauer
PRICELESS SHORE Eagle Valley Farm (John F. Haran) John F. Haran
PROSPECTIVE John C. Oxley Mark E. Casse
REVERON Stipa Racing Stable, Inc. Agustin C. Bezara
RICHIE'S EMPIRE Richard Ravin Larry Rivelli
RIGHT TO VOTE Casner Racing, LP & Sam B. Pollock Eoin G. Harty
ROCK HARDER Woodford Racing, LLC Neil J. Howard
ROCK ON RICHIE Richard Ravin Larry Rivelli
ROUSING SERMON Larry D. & Mary Williams Jerry Hollendorfer
RUSSIAN GREEK Olympia Star, Inc. Jerry Hollendorfer
SCATMAN JEOG Racing, LLC Michael E. Lauer
SENSOR Darley Stable (Richard Nunnelley, et al) Thomas Albertrani
SIDE ROAD Darley Stable (Richard Nunnelley, et al) Kiaran P. McLaughlin
SIR BOND Jerry Durant Neil J. Howard
SLEW Cam Allard Kiaran P. McLaughlin
SPACE RACE Brushwood Stable Michael R. Matz
SPORTING GENT Magdalena Racing (Susan McPeek) Kenneth G. McPeek
STATE OF PLAY Team Valor International (Barry Irwin) H. Graham Motion
STEALCASE John C. Oxley Mark E. Casse
STEELE ROAD Darley Stable (Richard Nunnelley, et al) Kiaran P. McLaughlin
TAKE CHARGE INDY Chuck & Maribeth Sandford Patrick B. Byrne
TAPIT EXPRESS Augustin Stable Jonathan E. Sheppard
TEETH OF THE DOG J. W. Singer LLC (Jose Singer) Michael R. Matz
TETRADRACHM Mrs. Jerry Amerman Paul J. McGee
TIGER WALK Sagamore Farm (T. Mullikin & K. Plank) Ignacio Correas, IV
TIZANEXPENSE Tiffany & George Veloudis Michael J. Maker
TWO SEVENTEEN Lewis Schaffel Bruce N. Levine
UNBRIDLED FIRE Cam Allard Kiaran P. McLaughlin
UNBRIDLED MINISTER Magic City Thoroughbred Partners Kenneth G. McPeek
UNION RAGS Chadds Ford Stable Michael R. Matz
WENT THE DAY WELL Team Valor & Mark Ford H. Graham Motion
WINDOW BOY Glorilu Stables John C. Servis
YOURHONORANDGLORY David Charlton Vintage Thoroughbred Farm John C. Servis
Z CAMELOT Zayat Stables, LLC (Ahmed Zayat) Dale L. Romans
Live racing returns to Hawthorne on Friday, February 17 and concludes Sunday, April 29. In February, live racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday. Beginning February 29, live racing on Wednesdays will be added. First post daily for the spring is 1:40 PM. Hawthorne race course is located in Stickney IL at 3501 S. Laramie Ave. For information on live racing or groups at Hawthorne Race Course, contact Hawthorne at 708-780-3700 or visit Hawthorne online at www.Hawthorneracecourse.com