Patriot Spirit dominates Illinois Derby

STICKNEY, Ill. - Physical ability never has been an issue for the 3-year-old colt Patriot Spirit. He won his career debut last August at Colonial Downs by more than six lengths, so he's a colt of obvious talent. What has held Patriot Spirit back has been a combination of poor racing luck and an inability to relax in some of his races.

But on Sunday, in the $200,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne, Patriot Spirit broke alertly, quickly made the lead into the first turn, and had the right rider aboard.

“I’m a professional,” 55-year-old jockey Julio Felix said. “If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s put a horse to sleep on the lead.”

It’s not like Patriot Spirit ever really dropped his head, but Felix declined to fight his mount, letting him use just enough of his speed to keep him happy, horse and rider coming to the top of the long homestretch at Hawthorne Race Course still full of run. The pace had been quick, 47.78 to the half-mile, but Patriot Spirit never wavered, stretching his lead from 2 3/4 lengths at the stretch call to 5 3/4 at the finish.

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“I told the owner, if he hangs in the stretch today, we’re going back to sprinting,” said Mike Campbell, who trains Patriot Spirit for George Mellon’s Mellon Patch.

Campbell also said he was convinced Patriot Spirit would stay the distance. A $235,000 2-year-old in training purchase last year, Patriot Spirit showed enough promise to make his connections dream very big.

“I really thought he was a Kentucky Derby type of horse,” Campbell said.

Campbell is a former president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and like all Chicago trainers has been forced, with the closing of Arlington and limited Hawthorne racing dates, to alter his annual schedule. Campbell has summered at Colonial and wintered at Tampa Bay Downs this season, but it was here at Hawthorne, with Felix often working the horse, that Patriot Spirit got his earliest lessons at the racetrack.

“I think that’s why he relaxed today. This felt like home to him,” Felix said.

Patriot Spirit finished ninth in his lone previous route try, the Sam Davis at Tampa Bay, but had his head turned at the start and was flat out of the gate. Racing from behind, he struggled mightily; racing in front Sunday, Patriot Spirit showed his might. Off a six-furlong split of 1:11.58 and one mile in 1:37.01, Patriot Spirit clocked 1:50.43 for the nine furlongs over a fast track.

Real Men Violin, the 17-10 favorite, chased the leader and tried to make a run at him in upper stretch, but it was Real Men Violin who faltered late. He still finished nearly 11 lengths in front of 9-5 second choice Woodcourt, who was followed across the finish in a spread-out field by Le Gris and Raguel. Ravin’s Town was scratched.

Patriot Spirit ($12.60) is by Constitution out of Mistical Plan, by Game Plan, and was bred in Kentucky by Blue Heaven Farm. The Illinois Derby, run for the first time since 2017, was positioned as a prep for the Preakness Stakes, but Campbell seemed more inclined to look at the Ohio Derby and the Iowa Derby. It will be up to Mellon in the end and, for now, connections – like their horse – can relax and enjoy being in front.

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