NEWS
Willcox Inn rebounds in TVG Hawthorne Derby
Posted: Saturday, October 15, 2011 8:48 PM
WILLCOX INN
FourFootedFotos.com
For video of the Hawthorne Derby, click here.
by Ron Parker
All In Stable’s Willcox Inn returned to his winning ways Saturday as he proved much the best in the $200,000 TVG Hawthorne Derby (G3) at Hawthorne Race Course.
The three-year-old Harlan’s Holiday colt came to Hawthorne off a solid three-race campaign at Arlington Park where he won the Arlington Classic Stakes on May 28 and stepped up to win the American Derby (G2) by four lengths before finishing fourth in the Secretariat Stakes (G1).
In the Secretariat, Willcox Inn flattened out in the stretch after making a four-wide advance but still finished just 3 ½ lengths behind winner Treasure Beach (GB) on yielding turf.
“Actually, on numbers, even though Willcox Inn finished fourth [in the Secretariat], he moved forward in that race. We felt really good about that effort,” trainer Mike Stidham said.
Dropping back to a Grade 3 race proved a winning endeavor for Willcox Inn, who was sent off as the 11-to-10 favorite in the field of ten.
Willcox Inn settled in mid-pack early under jockey Robby Albarado before splitting horses entering the stretch and pulling away for a convincing 4 ½-length win.
Third last year in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2), Willcox Inn posted his fourth victory from nine starts. Bred in Kentucky by Dr. John A. Chandler, Willcox Inn is out of the Grade 3-placed winning Gone West mare De Aar, a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and sire Cetewayo as well as multiple Grade 1 winner Dynaforce and Grade 2 winner Bowman Mill. Willcox Inn is DeAar’s first winner from two starters.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
