2017 Illinois Derby Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G3 Illinois Derby comes our way this Saturday, April 22 from Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Illinois. Horses three years old will be featured when they take to Hawthorne's dirt track and race 1 1/8 miles for the winner's share of the $250,000 purse.

A field of seven will take to the track in the Illinois Derby - race 5 on Hawthorne's Saturday schedule. Post time is 6:17 PM. Let's take a look into the past performances of all seven combatants for this G3 stakes.

2017 Illinois Derby Entries at Hawthorne Race Course

Multiplier - highly regarded colt has three career starts for trainer Brendan Walsh and has placed in all - one win, one second and a third place finish - all at Fair Grounds. He makes his stakes debut Saturday having finally broken maiden last time out March 18 after a second February 18 and a third in his debut January 21. Multiplier has improved every time out and hopes to continue that trend in his major step up in competition Saturday. James Graham has been tabbed to ride from the rail.

Hedge Fund - will hit the track for the fourth time Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher having posted one win and a third place finish so far. His third came last time out in his step up in competition - the G3 Sunland Derby March 26 which came after he broke maiden by four lengths February 4 at Gulfstream Park. He was fifth in his debut on that track December 14. Hedge Fund has been decent so far and looks to build on a pair of decent efforts from gate 2 Saturday. Jose Valdivia rides.

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It's Your Nickel - has three wins in his five career starts for trainer Kenneth McPeek - he finished sixth in his other two starts. Last time out was a bit of a step back - a sixth in the G2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland April 8 which followed a successful stakes debut - an impressive 6 1/2 length win in the minor John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park March 4 and wins in an Allowance Optional Claiming January 29 and a MSW at Saratoga in August. It's Your Nickel has been very good at times and searches for a first ever graded stakes score from post 3 Saturday. Channing Hill has been tabbed to ride.

Hollywood Handsome - has just one win to go along with three third place finishes for trainer Dallas Stewart. Last time out was an OK step up into stakes company - a fourth in the G2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds April 1. That result followed a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming on that track February 18, a maiden score over Multiplier at Fair Grounds January 21 and a fourth and a fifth respectively in a pair of MSW races to end his 2016 campaign. Hollywood Handsome has been OK so far in his career and will be after a first stakes win from the outside post 7 Saturday. Robby Albarado gets the call.

St. Louie Guy - Scott Becker trained gelding has four wins, two seconds and three third place finishes in 10 career starts - competitive every time out. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score here February 7 which followed a third in a similar race at Oaklawn Park March 17, a Starter Optional Claiming score on that track February 24 and an OK third in the minor Space City Stakes at San Houston in January. His only graded stakes result was a sixth in the G3 Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington in September. St. Louie Guy has been decent against lesser company and hopes it finally translates against top company Saturday. Victor Santiago has the mount from post 5.

Mr. Misunderstood - Brad Cox trained gelding has four wins and a second place finish in his seven career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday on a tidy three race win streak - two Allowance Optional races at Fair Grounds with the last coming by nine lengths March 25 and a Claiming race on that track December 29. Before that was a seventh in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs in November and a maiden score in October. Mr. Misunderstood has won four of his last five starts ahead of this weekend and hopes to continue the upward trend from gate 6 with Florent Geroux guiding him.

Stand and Cheer - has placed in six of eight career starts for trainer Scott Becker - one win, three seconds and two third place finishes. He arrives on the heels of consecutive runner-up finishes in Allowance Optional Claiming races - one at Oaklawn Park March 18 and the other at Fair Grounds March 5. Before that was a sixth in a similar race January 14, a maiden score on this very track in October and a fourth in his only graded stakes action to date - the G3 Arlington-Washington Futurity in September. Stand and Cheer has been OK so far in his career and will be in search of a career-defining win from gate 4 Saturday. Christopher Emigh gets the call.

2017 Illinois Derby Odds & Entries

Race 5 on Hawthorne's Saturday card with a Post Time of 7:17 PM.