Done Talking rallied fast in between horses to score a narrow victory in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III) this afternoon at Hawthorne race course.
Ridden to victory by Sheldon Russell, Done Talking was content race toward the rear of the pack early on, some twelve or thirteen lengths off of the early pace set by Frankie Is Rock and Our Entourage. The pace was moderate, with the two leaders rattling off fractions of :23.94 and :48.64. Z Rockstar was racing in third toward the rail, followed closely by Slamit, Morgan's Guerrilla, and Currency Swap. Hakama was the early trailer.
Rounding the far turn, Our Entourage moved up to take over the lead from Frankie Is Rock, but Morgan's Guerrilla was moving strongly on the far outside, and the two entered the homestretch with little between them. It appeared as though the pair would continue their duel all the way to the finish, but then Done Talking entered the picture, surging rapidly between horses. Morgan's Guerrilla desperately tried to hold him off, but Done Talking simply had too much momentum, and got up in time to win by a half-length.
Hakama closed rapidly to finish third, just edging out Saturday Launch for that spot. The final time for nine furlongs was 1:53.88. The winner is trained by Hamilton Smith and owned by Skeedattle Stable.
-Keelerman
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