Hawthorne Racecourse (12/4/11)
Contact: Jim Miller
(708) 780-3700
Jockey race update, live chat at Hawthorne
Just when it appeared Constantino Roman was going to make his move towards the top of the rider standings, Florent Geroux said not just yet with his performance on the Saturday afternoon card at Hawthorne. The Saturday card at Hawthorne saw only four riders win races, led by a four-bagger from Geroux. Tim Thornton rode home the late double while Francisco Torres also continued his hot week with a riding double. Julio Felix was the only other rider to win on the Saturday card.
Geroux found himself in the winner’s circle for another stakes score too as Class Break grinded out the victory in the Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante. Looking back at the race, it was an extremely tight finish that could have been won by any of three horses. While a pair of longshots set quick early fractions, the first to move was Our Domain and Chris Emigh. While Emigh took the lead at the top of the stretch, Orlando Mojica and Diva’s Diamond ranged up to her outside to make her bid for the lead. It appeared that Diva’s Diamond was going to run on by in the stretch before she started lugging in, slowing her momentum.
While the stretch battle ensued, Geroux, who had been riding Class Break under strong urging since the half mile pole, continued to close ground late. At the wire, it was Class Break getting up to win by a neck, just ahead of the dead heated Diva’s Diamond and Our Domain. The win was the second stakes score for Class Break, easily securing her title for top two-year-old Illinois bred filly.
The four wins on Saturday moved Geroux back to a comfortable 8-win lead in the rider standings with four weeks to go.
Today we have a nine-race card at Hawthorne with a good feature that goes as the 7th race. In the seventh, $35,000 Optional Claimers take to the track led by Bizzee Mizzee, Seans Silverdancer and Jitterbug Blues. The very competitive bunch is a wide-open affair.
As we have done in past weekends, we will have another online chat on HorseplayerNow.com. The chat room opens at 1:15 pm and will cover the entire Hawthorne card. We will provide insight and selections, along with taking questions and plays from our players. To access the chat, visit the Hawthorne website at Hawthorneracecourse.com and click on the HP Now tab in the middle of the screen.
Not too many changes on the Sunday card, let’s get some winners!
Changes
Main Track – Fast
Race 5
Scratch #2 – Sarkozy
Race 6
Scratch #1a – Demis Lil’ Star
Scratch #12 – Take Some Advice
Scratch #13 – Search No More
