Hawthorne track report

Invader, the odds-on favorite disqualified from first in last month's Showtime Deb Stakes at Hawthorne, seeks redemption in Saturday's $100,000 Illinois Breeders Debutante. The Debutante is a 1 1/16-mile stakes race for 2-year-old Illinois-bred fillies at Hawthorne.

The Debutante looks a lot like the Showtime Deb as far as the field is concerned. Seven fillies, including five of the top six finishers in the Showtime Deb, were entered in the Debutante.

Invader, who was on the pace throughout in the Showtime Deb, may find it difficult to win employing a similar strategy in the Debutante at a greater distance. Invader overtook pacesetter She's the Fashion in the Showtime Deb then tried to fend off a fresh challenge from 21-1 longshot She's Fantastic, but bumped She's Fantastic right before the finish and was disqualified and placed second.

Though Invader and She's Fantastic were 1 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Julie's Prize, both are coming off losses in the interim that may drive support elsewhere. Invader faltered as the even-money favorite in an entry-level allowance at Hawthorne on Nov. 28, while She's Fantastic was beaten 19 lengths in the Great State Challenge Juvenile Fillies at Sam Houston last weekend.

Julie's Prize hasn't raced since the Showtime Deb, and may benefit from the freshening. A daughter of El Prado, she also possesses a pedigree that is geared more to two-turn races. The main drawback is that she is still a maiden after six starts.

Two fillies who finished well behind the top pair in the Showtime Deb rebounded with good showings in an entry-level allowance on Nov. 30.

Cashmere Miss caught She's Fantastic in the final yards to win the six-furlong allowance. She's Fantastic showed more rating ability that day than she did in the Showtime Deb, and a similar style on Saturday would help her chances.

Another contender in a wide-open edition of the Debutante is Another Chance, who rallied from 14 lengths back to miss winning her debut by a nose going six furlongs. The extra distance will be to her benefit, as would a fast pace.

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