4/3/2010 Illinois Derby(G3) American Lion

7th race - Hawthorne - April 03, 2010
Race Name: Illinois Derby -Grade: 3
Race Type: Stakes
Age Restriction: Three Year Old
Value of Race: $500,000
Distance: One And One Eighth Miles On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:51.31

Pgm	Horse	Jockey	Win	Place	Show
1	American Lion	David Romero Flores	8.60	3.80	2.80
4	Yawanna Twist	Edgar S. Prado		2.80	2.20
7	Backtalk	Miguel Mena			3.00
Also ran: 5 - Turf Melody , 6 - Dave in Dixie , 3 - Boulder Creek , 2 - Stephen's Got Hope , 8 - Game Ball
Wager Type		Winning Numbers		Payoff
$2 Pick 3		4-5-1 (3 correct)		628.80
$2 Daily Double		5-1		73.80
$2 Exacta		1-4		24.60
$1 Superfecta		1-4-7-5		122.40
$2 Trifecta		1-4-7		73.40
Winning Breeder: WinStar Farm, LLC & Dr. William Lockridge
Winning Owner: WinStar Farm LLC
Winning Trainer: Eoin G. Harty

2010 Illinois Derby(G3) American Lion.pdf

AMERICAN LION 수 2007 USA 갈색 전적:6(3/1/1)  G3	Tiznow 티즈나우 갈 1997 USA  G1 15전(8,4,2) 436 f, 23sw 2.22	Cee's Tizzy 시즈티지 회 1987 USA [C] SP 505 f, 22sw 2.12	Relaunch 회 1976 USA [I 1600] G3
			Tizly 갈 1981 USA  w
		Cee's Song 시즈송 흑 1986 USA  w 11 f, 6 w, 4 sw	Seattle Song 흑 1981 USA {1896} SW
			Lonely Dancer 1975 CAN  w
	Storm Tide 밤 2000 USA  w 1전(1,0,0) 2 f, 1 w, 1 sw	Storm Cat 스톰캣 흑 1983 USA *[I] LS 1185 f, 158sw 3.62	Storm Bird 갈 1978 CAN [I 1400] G1
			Terlingua 밤 1976 USA {DC} G2
		City Band 밤 1994 USA  G1 8 f, 2 w, 2 sw	Carson City 밤 1987 USA [B] G2
			Wedding Band 흑 1987 USA  SW

Pedigree by http://www.exhorse.co.kr/

American Lion Wire-to-Wire in Illinois Derby
By Jason Shandler
Updated: Sunday, April 4, 2010 2:11 PM
Posted: Saturday, April 3, 2010 6:57 PM
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/56265/american-lion-wire-to-wire-in-illinois-derby

American Lion ran the race his connections have been waiting for all season April 3, taking the field in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III) (VIDEO) all the way around the Hawthorne Race Course oval to score by 2 3/4 lengths and earn himself a trip to the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

The homebred son of Tiznow   likely gave WinStar Farm its third definite starter for the Derby, as the powerful Kentucky-based operation also owns top 3-year-olds Rule and Endorsement, who have already punched their tickets to the classic. In addition, WinStar has a chance to send two more contenders to Churchill Downs, as the farm has Super Saver running in the April 10 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) and is considering racing Drosselmeyer in one of Keeneland’s preps in an attempt to garner enough graded earnings.

American Lion won the Hollywood Prevue (gr. III) in his 2-year-old finale in December, but disappointed in both of his starts as a 3-year-old entering the Illinois Derby. He was third in the Feb. 13 Robert B. Lewis (gr. II) and fourth in the March 13 San Felipe (gr. II)—both at Santa Anita Park—for trainer Eoin Harty. But Harty took the blinkers off for the Illinois Derby and was optimistic the California shipper would improve in his first start on dirt after four races on synthetic surfaces. He did.

Breaking from the rail under David Flores, American Lion was the quickest away from the gate and wasted no time grabbing the early lead. The bay colt beat 6-5 favorite Yawanna Twist to the first turn in the nine-furlong contest and was allowed to get away with an easy pace. He sailed through splits of :24.89, :49.32, and 1:13.22 while Yawanna Twist tracked him under Edgar Prado. Boulder Creek and Turf Melody were also close to the pace.

By the time they came off the turn it was a two-horse race between American Lion and Yawanna Twist, and the rivals were separated by only a head with a furlong remaining. Racing along the inside, American Lion held a narrow advantage through a fierce stretch duel, but was able to inch away inside the sixteenth-pole to secure the victory. The final time on the fast dirt was 1:51.31.

Yawanna Twist was 11 3/4 lengths ahead of Backtalk, who edged out Turf Melody by a neck for third.

“He bobbled a little bit at the start," said Flores, “but he got his feet right back under him and went right to the lead. He started looking around but I was pretty confident. I thought they would push him a little bit early but he was just looking around a little bit and he responded when they came to him. That was a good feeling knowing that when they came to him he still had something left in the tank."

American Lion, who was also bred by Dr. William Lockridge and is out of the Storm Cat mare Storm Tide, improved to 3-1-1 from six starts. He has now earned $413,600 after banking $291,000 of graded earnings in the Illinois Derby.

"There is only one Derby and we plan on being there," Harty said. "I think we needed to get a race over the dirt and fortunately he responded well to it. I have had three Kentucky Derby horses, all Tiznow runners, and this is another one that looks to be headed in the right direction."

Sent off as the 3-1 second choice, the winner paid $8.60, $3.80, and $2.80. The exacta (1-4) paid $24.60 and the trifecta (1-4-7) returned $73.40.

Dave in Dixie was fifth, followed by Boulder Creek, Stephen’s Got Hope, and Game Ball.

American Lion Game in Illinois Derby Victory
April 3, 2010
http://www.hawthorneracecourse.com/hawthorne_news/index.php?article=americanliongameinillinoisderbyvictory

STICKNEY,IL - WinStar Farm, LLC’s American Lion made every stride a winning one in Saturday’s Grade 3 Illinois Derby, Presented by TVG. This storied race, the 53^rd edition, carried a purse of $500,000.

American Lion, trained by Eoin Harty, broke from the inside post, seized immediate control and was able to hold favored Yawanna Twist safe despite repeated challenges.

“He bobbled a little bit at the start”, said rider David Flores, “but he got his feet right back under him and went right to the lead. He started looking around but I was pretty confident. I thought they would push him a little bit early but, like I said, he was just looking around a little bit and he responded when they came to him. That was a good feeling knowing that when they came to him he still had something left in the tank.

Favored Yawanna Twist, who finished second, two and three-quarter lengths back, tracked the pace during the entire race and tried valiantly to get past once they turned for home but American Lion dug in gamely and prevailed.

Edgar Prado, second on beaten favorite Yawanna Twist: "We broke good, and I tried to go to the lead. He was sitting very happy. The other horse just had a little more. He's inexperienced with only three starts."

It was another eleven and one-quarter lengths back to Backtalk, the third-place finisher.

Backtalk’s rider, Miguel Mena, wished the race had been a bit faster. "No problems at all, it was just a slow pace. I wish they would have gone a little faster than that, 49 and change for the Derby is pretty slow."

They covered the nine furlong distance in 1:51.31 after fractions of :24.89, :49.32, 1:13.22 and 1:38.24.

For the victory, American Lion earned $291,000 and boosted his career earnings to $413,600

American Lion returned $8.60, $3.80, and $2.80 as the 3-1 second choice.  Yawanna Twist returned $2.80 and $2.20 as the 6-5 favorite and Backtalk returned $3.00 to show.

Asked about the prospects of American Lion going to the Kentucky Derby, both rider David Flores and trainer Eoin Harty were confident.

“He did it today,” said Flores. “Hopefully we go for the big one next time.  The roses are the best thing to end up with. That’s my goal. Hopefully he’ll stay in good shape. Eoin knows what he’s doing. I’m just a lucky guy being here and riding this horse.”

Harty was even more passionate. "There is only one Derby and we plan on being there.  I think we needed to get a race over the dirt and fortunately he responded well to it.  We got in here Wednesday and were able to school, which helped.  These are different surroundings and a different paddock.  When we schooled, he was a bit active, but today he was very professional.  When he wore the blinkers, he was a bit rank and we took them off and he responded well.  When the other horse (Yawanna Twist) ran up next to him in the lane, I wasn't sure how he was going to respond, but he did everything right and had something left.  I have had three Kentucky Derby horses, all Tiznow runners and this is another one that looks to be headed in the right direction."

Hawthorne Race Course is in its 101^st year of racing under Carey family ownership.  Hawthorne races Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday –Sunday with a first post of 1:35 PM daily through April 25. 
For more information on racing at Hawthorne, visit our website at www.Hawthorneracecourse.com