Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course

Las Vegas, NV - Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Illinois will be the scene of the Grade 3 Illinois Derby this Saturday, April 20. Three year olds will be featured in this 1 1/8 mile race as they chase their share of the generous $750,000 around Hawthorne's main track.

A full field of 14 will line up in the Illinois Derby - race 8 on Hawthorne's Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:15 PM. The Illinois is not a Kentucky Derby prep this year but a good result here could earn the participants a start in the Preakness Stakes May 18. Here is a look into the past performances of all 14 entries for this important Grade 3 stakes.

2013 Illinois Derby Race Favorites

Departing - has four career starts for trainer Albert Stall Jr. and three wins - the last and most impressive being at the minor Texas Heritage Stakes at Sam Houston March 2. Before that was an Allowance Optional Claiming score here in January and a MSW score in her career debut December 22. Last time out was a good third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 30 at Fair Grounds which was enough to make him the morning line favorite.

Siete de Oros - has seven career starts with two wins - a Maiden Claiming and an Allowance at Parx. He had a second by a head in the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes at 41-1 odds at Aqueduct January 5 behind Vyjack and had two third place finishes recently - two back in the Grade 3 Withers and in the minor Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at Parx December 8. Last time out was a fourth place finish in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct March 2. He has been at or near the top in every one of his seven career starts and is certainly a threat in the Illinois Derby.

Illinois Derby 2013 | Remaining Field Entries

Show Some Magic - has a pair of seconds in his last two outings - last time out was a nice result in the Grade 2 Sunland Derby behind Govenor Charlie to follow a second in the minor Mine That Bird Derby February 23 and third in an Allowance January 27. He also had a win in the minor Riley Allison Futurity also at Sunland Park December 23. He was ninth in the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot in November and a fifth in the Grade 2 Three Chimneys Hopeful in September as well. But he enters as one of the most experienced colts in the field - 11 starts with two wins, four seconds and a third place finish.

Abraham - Todd Pletcher pupil is coming off a good third at the Grade 2 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park March 24 after breaking maiden at this distance two back in his second career start and finishing second in a MSW in his debut.

Dewey Square - Eclipse Award winning trainer Dale Romans sends out Dewey Square who won a MSW and an Allowance Optional Claiming race to start his career and was third in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs November 24 behind Uncaptured and Frac Daddy. His last two starts have been unflattering however - last time out was a disappointing fifth in the Grade 3 Palm Beach March 3 to follow a seventh in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream January 26 for his worst career result. Dewey Square is still considered a top Romans prospect and will be out to prove it Saturday.

Ground Transport - has just four career starts all at Fair Grounds with two wins -an Allowance Optional Claiming score February 23 and a MSW win January 19. Last time out was a respectable fifth in the competitive Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 30.

For Greater Glory - Steve Hobby trained colt is coming off sixth in the Spiral Stakes March 23 at Turfway Park after a third in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes in his fifth career start. Prior to that was a MSW score at Oaklawn Park and a pair of seconds and a third in MSW races at three different tracks.

Illinois Derby betting at Hawthorne Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com

Taken by the Storm - Kenneth McPeek colt won an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream March 9 after a sixth on that same track. Last time out was an OK fourth in the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park. He has to wins and one second in seven career starts and will be looking to build on his OK fourth last time out.

Stormin Monarcho - won an Allowance Optional Claiming three back in this track in November - his second career win. Since then he has struggled a tad - a fifth in the minor John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park March 2 and a fourth last time out in an Allowance here March 24.

Narvaez - raced in stakes company for the first time last time out and finished an OK fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby March 30. Prior to that he had two wins in three starts including- an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Gulfstream March 9 and a MSW score at Calder in November.

Bells Big Bernie - Scott Mullins trained colt started his career with seven straight MSW races - the last five coming on this track. He finally broke maiden March 3 after just a second and a third in his previous six. Last time out was an Allowance score here March 24.

Street Spice - is coming off a second in an Allowance on this track March 24 in his first race since an Allowance Optional Claiming score here December 16. In his first three career starts he had two sixth place finishes and a MSW score in October on this track.

Fordubai - has two wins and a second place finish in four career starts for trainer Greg Geier. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score here March 2 after a second in a similar race December 16 and after breaking maiden here November 10.

Dakota Mac - has two career starts for trainer Hugh Robertson - two wins on this track. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score March 22 after a maiden win March 9.

---

2013 Illinois Derby Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Hawthorne Race Course's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:15 PM.