No Triple Crown fever in Multiplier camp – yet
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STICKNEY, Ill. – Multiplier’s first try against other winners produced a graded-stakes victory when the colt gamely captured the Grade 3, $250,000 Illinois Derby on Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course. Multiplier rejoined trainer Brendan Walsh’s string at Keeneland on Sunday, and Walsh was pleased with the horse he saw return to Kentucky from Chicago.
“He looks like he came out of it pretty good,” Walsh said. “He’s so laid-back, he just takes everything in stride.”
Multiplier won a Fair Grounds maiden race in his third start, and Walsh was impressed enough with his development to eschew a first-level allowance race in favor of the Illinois Derby. There, Multiplier surged in the final furlong and just caught the favored Hedge Fund, with the top two about five lengths clear of third and Multiplier clocking an eye-catching 1:47.98 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast track.
The Hawthorne surface no doubt played quickly during Saturday’s twilight card, and Multiplier’s career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 88 reflects that.
Multiplier, by The Factor, is a Triple Crown nominee, but Walsh doesn’t yet have Triple Crown fever.
“Everyone is asking, ‘Are you going to the Preakness?’ but we’re still not sure yet what we’ll do,” Walsh said Monday. “We’re kicking a few things around. All the derbies out there, it’d be nice to have him around for them. There’s also something like the Peter Pan. I don’t know if it’s time to throw him to the wolves yet. We just want to see how everything shakes out first.”
Hedge Fund also has returned to Keeneland, and trainer Todd Pletcher said his colt had “exited the race in good shape.” Hedge Fund pressed a strong pace in the Illinois Derby and still finished with good energy.
“I thought he ran really well,” Pletcher said. “He might have gotten just a little bit lost out there on his own after he made the lead. He galloped right back out in front again.”
Pletcher said Hedge Fund will be considered for the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard. Hedge Fund further flattered the form of the Sunland Derby, which was won by Hence, who goes next in the Kentucky Derby, and in which Hedge Fund finished third after setting the pace. Second-place Conquest Mo Money returned with a strong runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby, while fourth-place Irap won the Blue Grass Stakes in his next start.
◗ Illinois-bred allowance horses sprint six furlongs in Thursday’s featured sixth race, and the seven-horse field has no defined favorite. Cashel Rock would be formidable were he to get back to his best 2016 form, but in two starts this meet, that has not come close to happening.
Briar’s Gold, who should be a fair price, is the pick to win. Briar’s Gold posted a fast Hawthorne workout April 14 and makes his first start in statebred-restricted competition since last summer, when he comfortably won an Arlington allowance race.
