Contact: Mitch Demick (708) 222-4542

Speedy Fillies try to Stretch Out in $100,000 Illinois Debutante

Carts Italian Rose (Courtesy Four Footed Photos)

Carts Italian Rose and Carbella have both proven they can fun fast…very fast. But can they run long?

On Saturday, December 8, the above mentioned duo will head a field of 11 two-year-old Illinois-bred fillies in the $100,000 Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante, contested at one mile and one-sixteenth.

At this distance, the fillies will get their one and only state-bred stakes opportunity in the 2007 racing year to prove they can handle the added ground, and the trainers who condition the top contenders can only hope for the best.

“The distance is the only thing I’m worried about,” said trainer Gary Delong, who will send out the Showtime Deb winner, Carts Italian Rose. “Either way, they’re going to have to catch us and my filly’s got a lot of heart.”

In the Showtime Deb Stakes, Carts Italian Rose went head-to-head with the favorite Carbella through speedy fractions and pushed by that rival late, while holding gamely to the wire. A repeat of that effort would make her tough to beat and Delong can only hope the distance doesn’t slow his filly down.

“We worked her twice at a mile and she seemed to handle it fine, and the jockey (Israel Ocampo) said she did it easily. I guess we’ll just have to hope for the best.”

Carbella, on the other hand, was making her first start in over three months, and her trainer Adam Kitchingman is counting on her moving forward from that hard-fought third place finish.

“I hope she got used to the heavy track,” remarked Kitchingman. “She cut the fastest splits that day and held pretty well to the wire. I think she’ll relax stretching out, and she’s bred on her dam’s side to get the added ground.”

Other contenders include the Richard Hazelton trained Lavaliere, an impressive maiden winner in her most recent start. Her trainer knows a thing or two about winning the Illinois Debutante, having taken the last two editions with Rolling Seas (2006) and Copper State (2007).

Link To My Heart can also factor strongly, although this will be her first attempt over a dirt track. This daughter of Stravinsky is at least proven at the distance and that is not something to be taken lightly.

The race is named after a woman who has established herself through the years as a leader in the proliferation of the Illinois Breeders and Owners Foundation. In recent years, the Illinois Debutante has been named in her honor. This year’s race will be the Illinois Debutante’s 25th anniversary.

Post Horse Jockey Trainer Odds
1. Annapolitan Quinones C. Schoenthal 30-1
2. Marikitten Agilar Swearingen 8-1
3. Bernt to Run Sanchez Wainwright 12-1
4. Carts Italian Rose Ocampo Delong 9-2
5a. Link To My Heart Razo Jr. Block 5-1
6. Archipelago Lopez Goldfine 30-1
7. Dodee Gee Thornton Miller 6-1
8. Carbella Emigh Kitchingman 4-1
9. Lavaliere Silva Hazelton 8-1
10a Apple Martini Perez Block 5-1
11. Hoosier Smarte Sukie Hughes 30-1

a Virginia H. Tarra Trust Entry

Hawthorne Race Course’s Thoroughbred meet begins on Friday, September 21 and will continue through the end of the year. Live racing will be conducted Wednesday through Sunday, regular first post 1:35 pm central time. Hawthorne Race Course is located at 3501 Laramie Avenue, Cicero, IL 60804, gates open daily at 7 am. Call (708) 780-3700 or visit the Web site at www.hawthorneracecourse.com.