This Saturday is the biggest day of the Hawthorne spring meet: Illinois Derby day!

The day’s action features three stakes races.  The Grade 3 Illinois Derby, which drew a field of seven sophomores, is the day’s centerpoint.  The card also includes a pair of six and a half furlong stakes races for Illinois-breds.  The Robert S. Molaro Handicap, open to any Illinois-breds aged three and up, will pit Grade 3 winner Recount against eight state-bred foes.  The Third Chance Handicap, its fillies’ and mares’ complement, drew a wide-open field of seven, including Illinois-bred stakes winner Go Lady Jay.

Head over to Picks and Ponderings, read my preview of Saturday’s stakes races, and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

(And then, if you haven’t jumped in yet, make sure to enter the Illinois Derby Challenge for Galloping Out!)