NEWS
Calculated path leads Denis of Cork to Illinois Derby
Posted: Monday, March 31, 2008 6:20 PM
DENIS OF CORK
Sunny Taylor/Coady Photography
by Jeff Lowe
In the wake of Big Brown’s dominant victory in the Florida Derby (G1), another lightly-raced colt will take center stage on Saturday when Denis of Cork pursues his fourth win in as many starts in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne Race Course.
Denis of Cork has not raced since a comfortable 2 1/4-length victory in the Southwest Stakes (G3) on February 18, but he has been flattered in the interim.
Sierra Sunset, the Southwest runner-up, followed with a clear win in the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn on March 15. A day later, Southwest third-place finisher Liberty Bull scored a two-length win in the WinStar Derby at Sunland Park.
Denis of Cork originally was slated for the Rebel, but his connections opted to wait for the 1 1/8-mile Illinois Derby.
Mark Reid, the racing manager for owner William and Suzanne Warren, consulted with Len Friedman, a partner with Ragozin Thoroughbred Data, in arriving at the decision to skip the Rebel with an eye toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
“He’s put together a great, forward-moving pattern racing every six or so weeks, and so rather than squeeze an extra race in there and have him come back on short rest for the Derby, our thoughts were that he might do better staying closer to the pattern that is working so well right now,” Reid said. “We’ve just found over the years that with too much they’re barely there for the Derby, and then they’re soon looking for exits. We’re trying to be at our peak for the Derby while also having something left for the rest of the year.”
Z Humor is the only other graded stakes winner in the field of seven for the Illinois Derby. The Distorted Humor colt finished in a dead heat for first with Turf War in the Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes (G3) on December 7, but he has finished off the board in his two starts this year.
As the 6-to-5 favorite in the Sam F. Davis Stakes on February 16, Z Humor came up empty and finished fifth to Fierce Wind. He finished fourth to Cool Coal Man eight days later in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Atoned, the runner-up in the Remsen Stakes (G2) and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in his most recent two starts, will represent trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the Illinois Derby last year with Cowtown Cat and in 2004 with Pollard’s Vision.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Recapturetheglory (Cherokee Run), E. T. Baird, 122, Louie J. Roussel, III;
2. Instill (Proud Citizen), Christopher A. Emigh, 122, John C. Wainwright;
3. Z Humor (Distorted Humor), Rene R. Douglas, 122, William I. Mott;
4. Atoned (Repent), Joe Bravo, 122, Todd A. Pletcher;
5. Denis of Cork (Harlan's Holiday), Julien R. Leparoux, 122, David M. Carroll;
6. Golden Spikes (Seeking the Gold), Timothy Thornton, 122, Martin D. Wolfson; and
7. Real Appeal (Successful Appeal), James Graham, 122, Thomas M. Amoss.
