By Ben Massam
The GIII Illinois Derby was a relevant prep for the GI Kentucky Derby as recently as a decade ago, yielding 2002 winner War Emblem (Our Emblem), 2006 favorite Sweetnorthernsaint (Sweetsouthernsaint) and 2009 third-place finisher Musket Man (Yonaguska). After disappearing for a one-year hiatus as Hawthorne Race Course solidified its purse funding, the springtime staple returns two weeks before the First Saturday in May as a potential prep for the two final jewels of the Triple Crown. Trainer Ken McPeek successfully brought Senior Investment (Discreetly Mine) back in 14 days to capture last weekend's GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. and seeks to complete the same move with John Battaglia Memorial S. winner It's Your Nickel (Dialed In)–most recently sixth in Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 8.
“You don't know until you try,” McPeek said following the Blue Grass, adding that the race served as a useful barometer for future plans. “We were the second-longest shot on the board and the longest shot [Irap (Tiznow)] won it. My horse is a nice horse.”
It's Your Nickel's stiffest competition could come from WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing's Hedge Fund (Super Saver), who was last seen finishing third behind Hence (Street Boss) after setting a brisk pace in the Mar. 26 GIII Sunland Derby. The Todd Pletcher trainee ships north after posting a pair of maintenance half-mile breezes at Palm Beach Downs and figures to be on the lead again Saturday. Mark Stanley's Hollywood Handsome (Tapizar) draws the widest post in a field of seven and will likely assume an off-the-pace position. The Dallas Stewart-conditioned bay rallied from last to check in fourth behind Girvin (Tale of Ekati) in the Apr. 1 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
Multiplier (The Factor) and Mr. Misunderstood (Archarcharch) also exit races in New Orleans. The former has shown steady improvement in each of his three starts, culminating in a decisive graduation over an extended mile Mar. 18, while the latter carries a three-race win streak after dominating a 1 1/16-mile off-the-turfer by nine lengths Mar. 25.
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