Crystal Quest should have the variables of pace and distance working in his favor Sunday at Hawthorne, where the closer could go favored over 11 others in the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby. The 1 1/8-mile turf race also drew Alotaluck, the runner-up to Stronghold in the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby; Tour Queen, a filly who owns the field’s best last-race turf Beyer Speed Figure; T’Challa, a runner making his first start for trainer Neil Drysdale after being based in England; and Baxley, who tries turf after winning his last three races. Crystal Quest, a stakes winner on turf, ships in from his Maryland base for the Hawthorne Derby for a simple reason, according to trainer Michael Trombetta. “He’s a horse that needs a lot of ground in front of him and there’s very few spots to run a 3-year-old a mile and an eighth or more, so the mile and an eighth is what’s luring me out there,” he said. “As long as he’s got an honest pace and plenty of ground in front of him, he’ll do fine.” Trombetta is hopeful Crystal Quest will get the right pace setup because of the large field Sunday. “In those races they tend to run a little bit more honest,” he said. :: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!  Crystal Quest last raced Aug. 24. After trailing through a half-mile in 49.40 seconds and six furlongs in 1:13.20 in the 1 1/16-mile turf allowance at Saratoga, he closed for fifth. “That was a bad setup for him,” Trombetta said. “He broke like he normally would and he kind of wasn’t in a real big hurry early and they just went very pedestrian-slow early up front. They went in 49 and change and if I remember that day maidens went in 47 for the half, so it’s just not a good setup for him. He closed up a little bit of ground, but they were sprinting home.” Pablo Morales has the mount from post 11 for Live Oak Plantation. “I think he’s a developing horse, so I just think he needs the right setup and that’s what we’re searching for,” said Trombetta. Alotaluck is set to make his turf debut. He’s a son of the Irish-bred stallion Sir Prancealot and the stakes-winning mare Colinda Dawn. Alotaluck was meant for turf last time in a Canterbury allowance, but the race was moved to the main track. He won by a half-length. It was Alotaluck’s first start since capturing the Mine That Derby in March at Sunland Park. Trainer Ty Garrett said pedigree is the primary reason for the move to turf with Alotaluck. “His mother ran a couple of good races on the grass,” he said, “and mainly that’s the reason, his breeding. “He’s also got a lot of extension in his front end, a little bit that flick to his stride, and supposedly that’s good on the grass.” Garrett also saddles Tour Queen, who defeated older rivals on turf in August. In her last start she was second against Canterbury turf horse of the meet Cupids Crush in an allowance. The 90 Beyer she earned is the best last-race turf number in the Hawthorne Derby. “It was a strong last race, and hopefully we can get some black type on her, increase her residual value,” said Garrett. Tour Queen tends to bid from off the pace, while Alotaluck could be prominent Sunday. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.