Denis of Cork was the even-money favorite to win the Illinois Derby on Saturday. He finished fifth. The horse became one of the most promising possible contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby when he won his third straight lifetime start in the Southwest Stakes. Denis of Cork has a professional running style, stalking patiently from off the pace, and he overcame wide trips in his first two starts. The horse looked like he would always be coming into the stretch with plenty of run left in hi... Read More

0 comments View Entry

Only seven contenders will square off in the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne, which was setting up to draw a larger field. Did undefeated Denis of Cork really scare away so many rivals? He's only been raced three times, and won all three of those lifetime starts by barely more than three lengths combined. The likely second-choice in the Illinois Derby will be the Pletcher-trained Atoned, second in the Tampa Bay Derby. Other familiar names on the 2008 Derby trail likely to draw money are... Read More

0 comments View Entry