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Joe Vann draws away late to win Illinois Derby

Posted: Saturday, April 09, 2011 8:28 PM

JOE VANN

Four Footed Fotos

To view a video replay of the Illinois Derby, click here.

by Patrick Reed

Minutes before Todd Pletcher watched his Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) favorite Uncle Mo turn in a disappointing performance in the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes (G1), the Eclipse Award-winning trainer received some positive news when Joe Vann tallied his third straight victory, drawing away from 11 challengers to take the $300,000 TVG Illinois Derby (G3) at Hawthorne Race Course.  

Ridden by Florent Geroux, Joe Vann gave all indications that he has matured into a solid racehorse as he pounced on pacesetter Lagoon of Diamonds from his stalking position on the far turn and responded authoritatively when challenged by The Fed Eased at the top of Hawthorne’s stretch.

The Silver Deputy colt dispatched The Fed Eased and had plenty in reserve to hold off Zoebear and win by a comfortable 4 ¼ lengths. Joe Vann covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.91 on a track rated as fast at odds of 5.30-to-1.

“My instructions were to simply enjoy myself,” Geroux said. “[Assistant trainer] Mike [Dilger] told me to place the horse wherever I wanted. He told me that he had good natural speed and that I could place him close if I wanted to, so that’s what I did.

“When I asked him at the quarter pole, he just took off. The thing that helped me was watching a couple of Joe Vann’s races. He beat [Risen Star Stakes (G3)] winner Mucho Macho Man in one of his maiden races [at Saratoga Race Course on August 21, 2010], so I knew he was a very nice horse.”

Maiden winner Zoebear settled for his fourth second-place finish in six career starts, edging The Fed Eased by a half-length. Watch Me Go, the 2.20-to-1 post-time favorite coming off an upset win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), raced in midpack through the backstretch but had no rally in the final quarter-mile and finished sixth.

Joe Vann, who is not nominated to the Triple Crown by owner Zayat Stables, was winless in his first five starts but responded when he shipped from New York to Laurel Park in Maryland, where he scored his first two victories, one in February and one in March. With his breakthrough win in the Illinois Derby, Joe Vann’s career record stands at three wins from eight starts with earnings of $217,615. He is out of the unplaced Danzig mare Polish Flower.

For an Equibase chart, click here.