Roussel 'recaptures the glory' in Illinois Derby

In 1988, Louie Roussel III trained Risen Star to win the Preakness (G1) and Belmont S. (G1), as well as a third in the Kentucky Derby (G1), en route to champion three-year-old honors. Twenty years later, Roussel promises to be on the Triple Crown scene once again by virtue of RECAPTURETHEGLORY (Cherokee Run), who recorded a surprisingly easy four-length upset in Saturday's $500,000 Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne. Sent off the near 16-1 sixth choice in the seven-horse field, Recapturetheglory was sent straight to the lead when the gates opened by jockey E.T. Baird and wasn't seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Golden Spikes (Seeking the Gold) applied some early pressure as Recapturetheglory led through splits in :24, :48 3/5 and 1:12 4/5. The eventual winner shook free of his challenger at the top of the stretch, reaching the mile point in 1:36 4/5 with a 1 1/2-length advantage, and drew off in the final furlong, finishing 1 1/8 miles over the fast track in 1:49 in his stakes debut. His more heralded rivals, Z Humor (Distorted Humor), Atoned (Repent) and the previously unbeaten, even-money favorite Denis of Cork (Harlan's Holiday), were all in position to challenge in upper stretch but lacked a rally, checking in third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Recpaturetheglory paid $33.80, $15.60 and $10. Golden Spikes, the 5-1 fourth choice, gave back $6.80 and $5.40 for runner-up honors. It was three-quarters of a length back to Z Humor, who returned $4.80 at 9-2. The 7-2 Atoned trailed by another three parts of a length, and it was a three-length gap to Denis of Cork. Instill (Proud Citizen) and Real Appeal (Successful Appeal) rounded out the order of finish.

Roussel trains and co-owns the winner with Ronald Lemarque, who also co-owned Risen Star. Recapturetheglory isn't close to possessing the same credentials at this point of his career as the massive, nearly black Risen Star, but the Illinois Derby is certainly encouraging for the future. The $300,000 payday increases his bankroll to $333,080 from a 6-2-1-2 line. The bay colt broke his maiden three starts previously at Hawthorne in late September and concluded his juvenile campaign with a runner-up finish in a Churchill Downs allowance. He finished third when making his 2008 debut in a grassy allowance at Fair Grounds on February 29.

Bred in Kentucky by Charles Jacobi, Recapturetheglory brought $130,000 as a 2005 Keeneland November weanling; $160,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale; and finally sold for $215,000 to his current connections at last year's Fasig-Tipton Florida February two-year-old sale. He's the first foal to start from the stakes-placed Cold Awakening (Dehere), who is also the dam of an unnamed juvenile colt by Yonaguska and an unnamed yearling filly by The Cliff's Edge. The winner's second dam, Chilly Chick (Raise a Native), is responsible for multiple Grade 3 winner Rotsaluck (Rajab), and this is the same female family of multiple Grade 2 winner Ten Below (Avatar), Grade 2 hero Fortnightly (Dance Spell), Grade 3 king It's Freezing (T. V. Commercial) and multiple Grade 1 runner-up Exuberant (What a Pleasure).