Illinois Derby victor aptly named by Roussel

In my Illinois Derby preview blog, I reminisced about War Emblem.

Wire to wire in the Illinois Derby.

Wire to wire in the Kentucky Derby.

Was I was having a flashback on Saturday?

Recapturetheglory, gate to wire, drawing off like a monster over some high profile rivals.

Similarities between Recapturetheglory and 2002 Kentucky Derby upsetter War Emblem abound.

Both wintered at Fair Grounds, and heading into their respective Illinois Derby runs, neither had much on their resume.

Both wired the field with local jockeys. Larry Sterling Jr. was on War Emblem for Bobby Springer and E. T. Baird piloted Recapturetheglory for Louie Roussel III.

Following War Emblem’s Illinois Derby wire job, Bob Baffert swooped into Chicago like a starved hawk, eventually dropping a check for a million bucks.

Baffert called Roussel too.

“Just to congratulate me,” Roussel answered quickly. “This horse is not for sale. My wife would kill me.”

Roussel, 62, used to own Fair Grounds. He doesn’t need the money.

Roussel is no stranger to the Kentucky Derby, but I’m not sure there are too many people out there would like another crack at it more than him.

It’s been 20 years since he’s been there, and it was with a very legitimate horse in Risen Star. The fourth choice in the wagering at 5.50-1, Risen Star was caught wide at every jump in the 1998 Kentucky Derby, but he still managed to finish a very creditable third behind the filly Winning Colors.

“If it wasn’t for the trip, he would have won,” Roussel said confidently.

Risen Star would return to win the Preakness in a scintillating final time, and smash the Belmont field by 15 lengths. He won 8 of 11 career starts and banked over $2 million in a era when that was tough to do, but he didn’t win the Derby, the race that every owner, trainer, jockey, groom, etc. dreams of winning.

“Risen Star should be in the Hall of Fame,” Roussel said. “I named this horse in Risen Star’s memory. I wanted to recapture his glory of 20 years ago. This horse has gotten us one step closer.”

Risen Star passed away ten years ago, which adds even more irony to Recapturetheglory’s Triple Crown journey.

Recapturetheglory’s Illinois Derby win was visually impressive, and the final time of 1:49.01 was fast, but the racetrack could easily have been perceived as inside speed favoring.

Five of the ten winners on Hawthorne’s Saturday card wired from the wood, and several rail skimming horses who looked defeated at the top of the stretch regained ground late.

The bias racetrack may have compromised the others, particularly even-money favorite Denis of Cork who failed to make any sort of an impact in an even fifth place run.

“Having the rail helped, but I don’t think it would have mattered where he was on the track,” said Roussel’s assistant trainer Lara Van Deren. He was the best horse in the race.”

Recapturetheglory will head to Churchill in a few days, and work twice over the track in advance of a Kentucky Derby run.

Like War Emblem, he’ll be overlooked by the betting public the first Saturday in May.

“I couldn’t help but think about that,” Roussel said of War Emblem’s front running 20-1 Derby upset. “War Pass, Big Brown, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to the front.”

He’s got a nice horse. Fate appears to be in his corner.

Perhaps Roussel can recapture the glory.