The entry box for the $200,000 Grade 2 Hawthorne Derby was
filled to overflowing after the post position draw on Wednesday. Twelve runners
drew into the main body of the field with two listed as also-eligibles, that
could get into the race if any in the body of the field decide to scratch.
This 48th running of the Hawthorne Derby will be
contested at a mile and an eighth on Hawthorne’s
turf course. It is restricted to 3-year-olds. The turf rail will be set at
zero-feet, allowing for a full field of 12 to compete.
As usual, this contest is one of the most competitive races
of the fall racing season.
Linemaker Jim Miller projected #4, All Squared Away, at 4-1,
to go off at the post-time favorite. This Peter Miller trainee, owned by Brous
Stable, will be ridden by Corey Nakatani. All Squared Away is a three-time
winner this year. He most recently finished seventh in the Grade 2 Del Mar
Derby, at this distance, but his chances were severely compromised when he
bobbled at the start and got off well behind the rest of the field. However, he
did manage to make up about 11 lengths and was less than three lengths back at
the finish.
Michael Bruder’s Quick Wit, trained by Dale Romans, drew the
12 post position but that shouldn’t be a factor in a race at this distance.
With his good tactical speed he should be able to gain good early running
position. His last victory came in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame at Saratoga,
in a race that was moved from turf to a sloppy dirt track. Local rider
Francisco Torres got the mount. There are listed at 5-1 in the morning line.
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. & De Tabor’s Finale,
trained by Todd Pletcher, seeks to make amends for a last-place finish in his
first race this year. That event took place at Saratoga,
in the $100,000 Equalize. This usually fleet-from-the-gate runner started off
near the back of the pack and made only a brief move to pass one runner before
fading to last place. However, this multiple stakes winner, who went off as the
tepid favorite in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill last
year, is certainly capable of far better. He has been listed at 8-1 in the
morning line.
There are a number of locally-based runners in here that
figure prominently. The Pizza Man, owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds and trained
by Roger Brueggemann and ridden by Seth Martinez will need a little assistance.
He drew into the also-eligibles, meaning they can’t run unless one of the other
horses scratch. The Pizza Man has been victorious in five of six of his races
on turf. He ran evenly to finish sixth, in the Grade 3 American Derby at Arlington,
in his only previous start against this type of company but he has improved
dramatically since that race.
Bluegrass VII’s Control Tower, has reeled off three straight
victories, all against somewhat easier company. But, he has come into his own
since moving to the barn of Wayne Catalano, and seems to be improving by leaps
and bounds. He’s been projected to go off at 8-1. He’ll be ridden by Miguel
Mena
Jim Tafel LLC’s All Stormy most recently got up to take a
second-level allowance event but his neck loss in the Grade 3 American Derby,
after leading from the start, shows that he can be a factor. Trained by Greg
Geier, he’ll be ridden by Rosemary Homeister Jr. He’s 12-1 in the morning line.
The complete field:
1. Film Shot
2. Finale
3. All Stormy
4. All Squared
Away
5. Francois
6. Two Months
Rent
7. Aldous Snow
8. Control
Tower
9. North of
Never
10. Lea
11. Pleasant
Closing
12. Quick Wit
13. The Pizza Man
14. Defiant Flyer