Betting the Illinois Derby on a Budget
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Cross the Line is one of the favorites in the Illinois Derby. (Photo by Shane Micheli/Vassar Photography)
This Saturday, Hawthorne Race Course hosts the $400,000 Illinois Derby, a true Midwest tradition. While the race isn’t part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby trail, it is still a viable prep for the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes.
The 1 1/8-mile race will be run in front of a raucous crowd celebrating Hawthorne’s biggest day of the year.
The chalk, Cross the Line, is a West Coast shipper who comes off a strong fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee had impressive showings in the El Camino Real Derby and the California Derby, winning the latter. Hot jockey Florent Geroux hops aboard and all signs point toward this colt being a worthy favorite.
The second favorite will catch the public’s attention. That tends to happen when you read the name Bob Baffert in the program under a horse’s name.
The Baffert entry’s name is Whiskey Ticket, and he’s not coming to town just for fun. He broke his maiden at a mile his first time out and has trained well in the company of one of the Derby trail’s rock stars, American Pharoah.
My two picks that have a little more potential to make some money are Phenomenal Phoenix and Conquest Curlinate.
Phenomenal Phoneix has shown a nice ability to close from off the pace, which could come in handy if Whiskey Ticket jumps right to the front as he did in his debut.
Conquest Curlinate is an intriguing horse because he has displayed talent at this distance. Mark Casse should also have him poised to strike here, following his steady improvement this winter at Oaklawn Park.
Budget Betting Strategy
Option A: High Risk/Reward
$20 win: Conquest Curlinate ($20)
Option B: Medium Risk/Reward
$2 exacta box: Conquest Curlinate, Phenomenal Phoenix, Whiskey Ticket, Cross the Line ($24)
$400,000 Illinois Derby,Saturday, Hawthorne, Race 9, Post time 6:40 p.m. ET1 1/8 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
M/L
1
Kantune
Chris Emigh
Mark Casse
Gary Barber
6/1
2
Verraco
Elvis Trujillo
James Cassidy
D.P. Racing
5/1
3
Cross the Line
Florent Geroux
Jerry Hollendorfer
Hollendorfer, Todaro,ect
3/1
4
A. Rod Again
Miguel Mena
Mike Maker
J. Armando Rodriguez Racing Stable
10/1
5
Conquest Curlinate
Shaun Bridgmohan
Mark Casse
Conquest Stables
8/1
6
Whiskey Ticket
Martin Pedroza
Bob Baffert
Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman
7/2
7
Lewys Vaporizer
Santo Sanjur
Larry Rivelli
Richard Ravin and Patricia’s Hope
15/1
8
Phenomenal Phoenix
Luis Quinonez
Donnie Von Hemel
Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch
6/1
9
Private Prospect
Emmanuel Esquivel
Michael Campbell
Mellon Patch Inc
12/1
All entries carry 123 pounds