Illinois-bred horses know running not politics

As the well being of thoroughbred racing in Illinois remains in a perpetual state of turmoil, it’s a good thing that the horses bred and foaled in the Prairie State don’t know politics. This year’s Illini-bred runners are not only cleaning up at their home tracks, but they’re also taking their talents on the road to collect graded stakes wins around the nation. Let’s take a look at some of the state’s shining stars in 2014...

La Tia - Fans of this hard hitting five-year-old daughter of City Place knew that she was more than just a synthetics horse. Her game performance against some of the best turf females out there in this year’s Beverly D. was proof of that. That 1 ½-length loss only earned her a fourth place finish, though. She needed a signature win on the lawn. Owned by her breeder, Salvador Hernandez, La Tia had already accounted for a trio of graded stakes races on the Polytrack at Arlington and Woodbine, including two romping wins in the Arlington Matron and Ontario Matron already this year, but on the turf, she had yet to win a graded stakes race. All that changed yesterday. They say if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere, and La Tia got it done in the Big Apple with a wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 3 Athenia Stakes at Belmont Park. A non-winner in three starts as a juvenile, La Tia is now a winner of 9-of-22 lifetime for trainer Armando De la cerda. The versatile and speedy mare has earned more than $800,000, while winning seven stakes races over the last three seasons.

Work All Week - Speaking of strong records, how about the one compiled by the state’s best sprinter? Work All Week has won 11-of-14 career starts, with none bigger than his latest victory in the Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland. The October 4 victory in the historic race was actually the homebred of Midwest Thoroughbreds’ first attempt in graded stakes racing. You can say he passed the test with flying colors. In defeating the top field of sprinters in style, the Roger Brueggemann trained gelding punched his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Already an impressive stakes winner in Arkansas and Iowa this year, the five-year-old will now head to Santa Anita as not only an entrant in the World Championships, but as one of the horses to beat.

The Pizza Man - He may not yet be a graded stakes winner outside the state of Illinois, but those familiar with the winner of 12-of-18 lifetime, know that the son of English Channel is one serious turf horse. Also a Midwest Thoroughbreds and Roger Brueggemann collaboration, The Pizza Man was never better than in a pair of stakes wins this summer at Arlington Park. First came a front running score in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes in July. Which was followed by an event better performance while winning the $400,000 American St. Leger over an international field on Arlington Million day. The good looking gelding could not make it six in a row in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer last time, but he will be in again with a real shot in Woodbine’s Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International on Sunday. A victory in that one would come at the expense of another racy Illinois-bred.

Suntracer - Not to be outdone by his cheesy compadre from Chicagoland, this one will also be gunning for his biggest career victory in the $1 million Canadian International. Suntracer may not have the sparkling record of the three listed above, but as he has proven many times over the past several years, he is one tough hombre. Team Block through and through, the six-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy likes to kick it in late and wear down his competition with his strong finish. His penchant for coming home big was on full display most recently in the Grade 3, 12-furlong Kentucky Turf Cup. Tenth and last early on, Suntracer used a sustained rally to take the lead in the stretch, before doggedly holding off a late challenge from Pyrite Mountain.

Oh, and one last bit of love for the Illini-breds, Lisa Danielle may not have been a star on the track, but as a broodmare, she is pure superstar. Yes, Wise Dan’s dam is an Illinois-bred!