I Want Revenge lived up to top billing with a visually impressive Wood Memorial tally at the Big A on April 4th.
The Jeff Mullins trainee overcame a bad start and traffic woes to win handily, and he heads to Kentucky with plenty of momentum. West Side Bernie rebounded from a below par Lane’s End effort to land the place, but the winner was much the best.
Confident young rider Joe Talamo has plenty to feel good about, and Revenge will likely vie for Derby favoritism with Quality Road.
On the other side of the country, Pioneerof The Nile got the …read more

$500k Ilinois Derby (G2) – Hawthorne race 7 (4-4-09)
Perfect Song (6-1) is a head away from a 3-3 record, and that loss occurred on synthetic ground. Trombetta is 23% with shippers, and the son of BC Classic hero Pleasantly Perfect is bred to handle added ground. He sports best overall pace figs and might get brave if able to shake loose early.
Musket Man (7-2) fits the winning track profile as a stalker breaking from an outer post. Win type continues to work well and is an obvious threat.
Nowhere To Hide (5-1) has more tactical …read more

Tampa Bay Derby winner Musket Man takes on ten rivals in Saturday’s Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne Race Course. Eibar Coa hops aboard the versatile 7-2 morning line fav. He has won 3 of 4 and figures right there if able to handle a surface other than Tampa.
Giant Oak (9-2) is late running trouble-prone sort, and he is due for clear sailing and racing luck. The Chris Block runner needs pace help, and the speedy Perfect Song (6-1) figures to ensure honest splits.

Nowhere To Hide (5-1) will start from the rail for Nick Zito, and he was …read more