Illinois Derby Field

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Kasept

BDub,

Not sure about what's come back out of Quite Acceptable's last, but standing alone, he's... 'quite acceptable' as the race's local hero. Shows nice forward progress and should sit the catbird trip off Cobalt's flank from the bell. Depending on the pace, he has an outside chance of hanging on for a small share, but seems slow in comparison to those who will come calling...

If we're looking for value here, the Asmussen DepComm red Reporting for Duty looks like the right one. Will save all the ground; may get a pace target; has the capable Broad Shoulders rider in Emigh; broke his maiden in Cicero from a tough launch; and has the FG effort behind Ketchikan that is good enough here for a nice check.

It's a very interesting edition of this race's 50th renewal.

Anyone playing this race, since you spoke of pace, be SURE to watch the earlier races at Hawthorne. The speed bias hasn't been as pronounced on most days of late -- but at Hawthorne, when speed is holding, it's really seriously holding. A freight train couldn't pass a turtle in the stretch some days.