San Felipe S. (G2) winner COBALT BLUE (Golden Missile) has been pegged as the
9-5 favorite on the morning line for Saturday’s 50th running of the $500,000
Illinois Derby (G2), one of the final major preps for the May 5 Kentucky Derby
(G1). The Doug O’Neill charge will face eight other sophomores in the 1 1/8-mile
affair at Hawthorne Race Course, led by Gotham S. (G3) hero COWTOWN CAT
(Distorted Humor).
Merv Griffin’s Cobalt Blue has captured three of four lifetime starts. A well
regarded juvenile, the chestnut returned from a six-month layoff in an allowance
sprint at Santa Anita, rallying smartly from off the pace to win going away by a
length. Making his two-turn debut in the San Felipe, Cobalt Blue employed
front-running tactics en route to a decisive two-length tally. Victor Espinoza,
who masterminded his San Felipe victory, will be in the irons as the colt breaks
from post 5.
“I’ll leave it in Victor’s hands,” O’Neill said of his race strategy. “We
were allowed an easy lead in the San Felipe, but this horse is pretty much
push-button. I think he can run from anywhere.”
Cowtown Cat, the second choice at 5-2, hails from the powerful Todd Pletcher
barn. After finishing a distant third in the 6 1/2-furlong Swale S. (G2) at
Gulfstream Park, he stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in the Gotham and scored in
dashing style. The chestnut split rivals in midstretch, bulling his way through
and spurting clear by 2 1/2 lengths. Sensational teenager Fernando Jara picks up
the mount on Cowtown Cat, who has drawn just to the inside of Cobalt Blue in
post 4.
Others with stakes experience are BOLD START (Jump Start), exiting a
runner-up effort in the Hutcheson S. (G2) for Ken McPeek; recent John Battaglia
Memorial S. victor CATMAN RUNNING (Tactical Cat), an impressive maiden winner at
Hawthorne in December; and QUITE ACCEPTABLE (Acceptable), who’s two-for-two at
this venue, including a score in the War Emblem S. last time out.
Among those making their stakes debuts are the Bill Mott-trained SACRIFICE
BUNT (Storm Cat), a full brother to 1999 Illinois Derby hero, Vision and Verse,
and FAMILY TALK (Talk Is Money), an uncoupled stablemate of Cobalt Blue.
Sacrifice Bunt, a 12-1 shot on the morning line, will lead the post parade
with Jesse Campbell. Next will come Bold Start, Larry Melancon, 9-2; REPORTING
FOR DUTY (Deputy Commander), Chris Emigh, 15-1; Cowtown Cat; Cobalt Blue; Quite
Acceptable, Ramsey Zimmerman, 20-1; Catman Running, Willie Martinez, 8-1; Family
Talk, Terry Thompson, 20-1; and LOVE DUBAI (E Dubai), Miguel Mena, 15-1.
Each starter will carry 122 pounds.
The day’s other stakes events will shine the spotlight on three-year-old
sprinters. The $45,000
Lost Code
S. features a field of seven traveling six furlongs. The once-beaten CARUSO
(Cape Canaveral) will shoulder the top weight of 122 pounds in his sophomore
debut, where he will meet the well traveled B. B. MANCINI (Mancini). Six fillies
will square off in the $45,000
Meafara S.,
highlighted by stakes-placed RICH N CLEVER (Richter Scale) and MISSING TREASURE
(Out of Place), who’s won two in a row at Hawthorne.