HORSE RACING

• Denis of Cork headlines Illinois Derby

  
  

  Cicero, IL (Sports Network) - Undefeated Denis of Cork heads a field of seven for Saturday's $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course. The 1 1/8 mile race has become an important Kentucky Derby prep in recent years.

  In 2002 War Emblem followed his win in this race with victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

  "We just like to keep the Illinois Derby in the national spotlight," said Stakes Coordinator Debbie Lindsay. "It's a great race at a good time of the year, because it's four weeks until the Kentucky Derby. That makes it a graded prep race for decent money and I think most of the horsemen recognize that."

  Denis of Cork, the winner of the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, will start from post five with Julien Leparoux set to ride. Trained by David Carroll, the colt is considered the favorite for the race.

  "We're very happy with him and now hopefully he'll run big in Illinois," said Carroll about his colt. "We need to run big there. I think Julien is kind of a quiet rider and can get this horse in a nice rhythm. He's kind of a push- button horse and I think he'll fit him beautifully."

  Owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Warren, Denis of Cork has banked $198,552 with $174,000 earned this year. He won the Southwest Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over Sierra Sunset, who then went on to capture the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.

  Atoned, second in the Tampa Bay Derby, will break from post four with Joe Bravo getting his first ride on the colt.

  The three-year-old will try to snap a four race streak in which he has finished second each start. Since winning the Continental Mile at Monmouth Park last August, Atoned has been the runner-up in the Whirling Ash, Dover and Remsen Stakes along with the Tampa Bay Derby.

  Trained by Todd Pletcher for Dogwood Stable, Atoned has won two of eight career starts for $196,757.

  Veteran Louisiana trainer Louie Roussel ships in Recapturetheglory for the race. The colt will be ridden by Eddie Baird from the inside post.

  Recapturetheglory will make his stakes debut on Saturday for co-owners Roussel and Ronald Lamarque. The three-year-old has been in the money in four of five career starts with one win. A horse that likes to be at or on the lead, he has earned $33,080.

  Here is the complete field in post position order for the Illinois Derby: Recapturetheglory, Eddie Baird; Instill, Chris Emigh; Z Humor, Rene Douglas; Atoned, Joe Bravo; Denis of Cork, Julien Leparoux; Golden Spikes, Timothy Thornton and Real Appeal, James Graham.

  The 51st Illinois Derby has a scheduled post-time of 5:26 p.m. (et).

  03/31 16:06:54 ET