Illinois Derby Picks – Out of Town Invaders Eye Top Prize

The Kentucky Derby prep races continue as the Run for the Roses is just around the corner. The 2010 Edition of the Gr.2 Illinois derby promises to be an exciting wide open affair with a quality field with possibly as many as seven 3-year olds as probable starters. Despite the decision of the connections of Gotham City invader Schoolyard Dreams to opt for the Wood Memorial.

• What: Horse Betting
• When: Saturday April 3rd
• Where: Cicero Illinois 53rd Edition of Grade II $500,000 guaranteed Illinois Derby 1 1/8 Dirt
• Who: Thoroughbreds – American Lion, Backtalk, Dave In Dixie Turf Melody, Game Ball, Uh Oh Bango, Call Shot

Illinois Derby Picks – The Favorite

Backtalk Trained by Tom Amoss should emerge as the morning line favorite now that Schoolyard Dreams has opted out of this tussle. Backtalk was one of the better Two year olds last summer before losing his last two starts of the 2009 campaign. Backtalk in 2010 has returned to form, with an impressive win on Feb 26th in the Sportsman’s Paradise at Delta Downs. The recent bullet workouts last Thursday at the Fair Grounds where he went a sizzling 1:09:60 on six furlongs, suggest he is in good form.

Illinois Derby Picks – The Second Tier

Making the trip east from Santa Anita are two notable California shippers American Lion and Dave in Dixie both recently ran in the March 13th San Felipe Stakes finishing gamely at fourth and sixth respectively. Those of you who like the “Turf to Dirt” angle should note they are both making their dirt debut in this event. Another of the quality horses in this field is NY based Yawanna Twist trained by Rick Dutrow he won his first two starts by 9 1/2 lengths combined and lost a close one to by 1 ¾ lengths to Awesome Act in the March 6th Gotham Stakes at over a distance of ground of 1 mile &1/16th at Aqueduct.

Illinois Derby Picks – The Long Shots

Turf Melody who has had a string of recent solid efforts winning in the Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Dec 26th, finishing sixth in the Lacombe Stakes Feb 27th at the Fair Grounds and followed that effort on March 6th by finishing fourth in the Gotham. Game Ball was a recent allowance winner at Tampa Bay Downs. Uh Oh Bango and Call Shot round out the field.

Illinois Derby Prediction & Outlook

As stated this promises to be a wide open field look for the horse with the stalking style that come off the pace and use the tactical speed to his advantage if you like fit and form as an angle then this writer will see Backtalk as the major threat with Rick Dutrow’s Yawanna Twist as a solid contender.

For more sports betting articles, check out the betonline.com Betting Edge daily.