Hawthorne Race Course

Contact: Ron Uchman
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Yankee Fourtune Continues Winning Ways in Hawthorne Derby

STICKNEY, IL – Two weeks, two graded stakes victories for trainer Kiaran McLauglin at Hawthorne. Last week it was Redding Colliery holding on for a front-running win on the dirt in the Grade II Hawthorne Gold Cup. This week the win came in front-running style again, only on the turf as Yankee Fourtune made it four in a row.

Breaking sharply from the outside, Yankee Fourtune cleared the early lead under jockey Victor Santiago, setting opening fractions of :23.32 and :47.50 over the firm turf course. Chased into the turn by Cherokee Lord, Yankee Fourtune held a daylight advantage into the stretch, covering three-quarters in 1:11.03. In the stretch, Cherokee Lord gave way and Mister Marti Gras closed too late as Yankee Fourtune held on for a 2 ¼ length win, stopping the clock for the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.35. Mister Marti Gras closed to finish second while Asphalt ran on for third.

As the even-money choice, Yankee Fourtune returned $4.00, $3.00 and $2.60. Mister Marti Gras came back $4.20 and $3.20 while Asphalt returned $3.80 to show. Yankee Fourtune is now a winner of four of five lifetime starts for owners Harvey Clark and Andrew Albstein.

Following the race, winning rider Victor Santiago knew he was on a good one, “The first time I rode him, I told Kiaran that he was a really nice horse. The second time I rode him, I told him I had never been on a horse as nice as this one. I knew from the beginning that he was something special. I came across to get to the lead pretty quickly. I didn’t really want to do that on purpose but I did want to get ahead of the other speed and I did want the inside. As soon as we grabbed the lead he started running easy. I gave him a nice hold and he traveled very nice. I knew that if I got him to the lead and got him to relax he was going to be tough.”

Hawthorne Race Course is in its 101st year of racing under Carey family ownership. Hawthorne offers the only traditional dirt track for thoroughbred racing in Northern Illinois. Live racing at Hawthorne runs Wednesday – Saturday through December 31. Post time daily is 1:35 PM with late post on Fridays of 2:35 PM through November 19. Club Hawthorne membership is Free and available at Guest Services at Hawthorne Race Course. For more information, visit www.Hawthorneracecourse.com.