Illinois Derby J

The $500,000 Illinois Derby (G2) is perhaps the most interesting of the three
Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races on Saturday as a field of 10 three-year-olds from
all parts of the country will meet in the 1 1/8-mile event. Morning-line
favorite CAUSE TO BELIEVE (Maria’s Mon) invades for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
from Northern California. MY GOLDEN SONG (Unbridled’s Song) has headed north
from Todd Pletcher’s stable in South Florida. SWEETNORTHERNSAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint),
who is based in Maryland, ran a good third in the Gotham S. (G3) in New York
last time, and pair of prospects have shipped in from Southern California.

RACKETEER (Awesome Again) broke his maiden at Santa Anita in mid-January and
finished third next time in a six-furlong allowance next out. Bred to relish
longer distances, the Bobby Frankel-trained colt then made his two-turn and
stakes debut in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe S. (G3) and held well after disputing
the pace to finish fourth, beaten only a nose for third while 2 1/2 lengths
behind the winner. Racketeer earned a solid 98 BRIS Speed rating and has all the
makings of a late-blooming colt in the hands of a patient Hall of Fame
conditioner. Another step forward can land the bay colt in the winner’s circle
at Hawthorne Saturday.

Sweetnorthernsaint suffered a brutal trip from post 10 over the inner track
last time, but he hung in gamely despite traveling wide on both turns and surged
late to finish a menacing third, three-quarters of a length behind the winner.
The Michael Trombetta-trained gelding received another excellent Speed rating of
107, and he’s been a monster in that category in his last three starts.
Sweetnorthernsaint looks very legitimate, but he’ll have to overcome an outside
post once again in his first attempt at nine furlongs. He will have a much
longer run to the first turn at Hawthorne.

Cause to Believe is among the most experienced members of the field, making
his eighth career stakes start on Saturday, and he’ll be running late under
Russell Baze. We respect the gray colt’s chances, but he’s never been nine
furlongs and never traveled outside of California. His winning attitude
(six-for-nine) is very impressive and another victory will come as no surprise,
but Cause to Believe could leave himself with too much to do against much deeper
competition on Saturday.

My Golden Song rallied late to be only 1 3/4 lengths back of the disqualified
winner of the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) last time and finished third in the Holy
Bull S. (G3) before that. His Florida form is very respectable, but the gray
colt hasn’t been a serious threat for the win either time and will have to break
from post 9 on Saturday. He appears very capable of challenging for it all.

LEWIS MICHAEL (Rahy) has Illinois’s best trainer, Wayne Catalano, in his
corner and ran a good race in his only previous dirt start when finishing second
in his career debut. The bay colt displayed some talent on the turf late last
year, winning a listed stakes at Churchill, and opened his 2006 campaign with a
third behind Barbaro (Dynaformer) in the Tropical Park Derby (G3). Lewis Michael
has been training forwardly for his main track re-appearance and is favorably
drawn in post 4. The stalker is an interesting prospect for the exotics.
ITSALLBOUTTHECHASE (Devil His Due) could possibly improve away from Gulfstream,
but it’s difficult to gauge how good he is. We liked his maiden win at Churchill
last November and were encouraged by his 2006 debut, but nothing has gone right
since then. We’ll just have to watch to see how he performs.

MISTER TRIESTER (Old Trieste) captured a one-mile maiden special weight event
at Santa Anita two starts back and finished a solid fourth to Brother Derek
(Benchmark) in the Santa Catalina S. (G2) last time. The Glen Stute trainee may
continue to develop into a top-class three-year-old, but he’ll have to overcome
lower Speed ratings and a serious lack of seasoning in this spot. CREATIVE FORCE
(Red Ransom) finished a decent second in a Hawthorne allowance last out and is
eligible to keep improving for trainer Chris Block. However, we can’t recommend
his chances stepping up in class here.

DEVILOFARUSH (Wild Rush) brings decent form into the race, but the former
claimer probably won’t be able to sustain his early speed. MALAMEEZE (Saint
Ballado) rallied late to grab third in the Lane’s End S. (G2), but we’re not
sure how the form on the Polytrack that afternoon will hold up elsewhere. We’ll
watch to find out with Malameeze.