Departing favored in 56th Illinois Derby

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Stickney, IL (Sports Network) - Departing, third in last month's Louisiana Derby, is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 56th edition of the $750,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course.

This year's 1 1/8-mile race has a field of 14 and received a purse increase of $250,000 from last year.

Won last year by 12-1 longshot Done Talking, the Illinois Derby was moved back two weeks from its customary position after its exclusion from the new Kentucky Derby points system.

Trained by Al Stall Jr., Departing will start from post 13 with regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle.

The 3-year-old gelding, owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, won his first three starts before a third-place finish behind Revolutionary at Fair Grounds. Departing has banked $178,000 with 20 points in the Kentucky Derby points system.

Sunland Derby runner-up Show Some Magic has drawn post 9 with Miguel Mena first time riding. The chestnut colt is owned by Judy and J. Kirk Robison and trained by Henry Dominguez.

Show Some Magic has two wins and four seconds in his 11 starts for $368,890. Four weeks before his second-place finish behind Governor Charlie at Sunland Park, he was the runner-up to Dry Summer in the Mine That Bird Derby.

Ken McPeek, trainer of Blue Grass Stakes champ Java's War, will start Taken by the Storm at Hawthorne. The colt, owned by Chasing Dreams Racing 2011, will break from post 6 with Alan Garcia again riding.

Taken by the Storm was fourth in the Spiral Stakes last month at Turfway Park. He finished 3 1/2 lengths behind Black Onyx after having the lead at the quarter pole.

The colt has two wins in seven starts for $98,960.

In post position order, here is the field for the Illinois Derby: Bells Big Bernie, Tim Thornton; Dewey Square, Corey Lanerie; Street Spice, Jeffrey Sanchez; For Greater Glory, Shaun Bridgmohan; Ground Transport, Mark Guidry; Taken by the Storm, Alan Garcia; Dakota Mac, Seth Martinez; Abraham, Javier Castellano; Show Some Magic, Miguel Mena; Fordubai, Diego Sanchez; Stormin Monarcho, Florent Geroux; Siete de Oros, Angel Arroyo; Departing, Brian Hernandez Jr.; Narvaez, Paco Lopez.

Post-time for the Illinois Derby will be approximately 6:15 p.m. (ET).