Win, Place & Show \ Saturday’s horse races

April 5, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Illinois Open

CICERO, Ill. — Trainer Derek Ryan is wasting no time planning Musket Man’s next destination after the 3-year-old colt used a big stretch run to win Saturday’s $500,000 Illinois Open. “We’re leaving for Churchill [Downs] tomorrow at 7 a.m.,” Ryan said after Musket Man shot past four competitors after the final turn to win the Grade 2 race by 2 lengths. “He really ran a big race today,” Ryan said. “Everybody has been questioning his ability to get the distance, but they don’t know the horse I do.” The victory on the 1 1/8 mile Hawthorne Race Course track gives the Kentucky-bred colt a likely spot in next month’s Kentucky Derby. “He’s got to be one of the top picks now,” Ryan said. “He’s a very, very talented horse. He’s got one of the best dispositions of a horse you could ever had, nothing ever bothers him.” Musket Man was in fifth place approaching the final turn when jockey Eibar Coa maneuvered the colt on the far side into position for a dynamic stretch run. Musket Man was a 5-1 morning line favorite and 5-2 by post time. He paid $7.60 to win, $3.80 to place and $3.20 to show. Second-place finisher Giant Oak returned $4.20 and $3. Show horse His Greatness paid $11.80. Musket Man, the only entry with a previous graded stakes victory, has now won three of four races this year. The $285,000 first prize boosts his 2009 earnings to more than $500,000. Perfect Song, which entered with 6-1 odds, led much of the race but faded after the far turn and finished seventh. Illinois-bred Giant Oak was in fourth place through much of the race and moved up on the inside to claim second.

Wood Memorial

NEW YORK — I Want Revenge has won the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct after making a great recovery from a poor start. The victory solidified I Want Revenge’s status as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby in four weeks. When the starting gate opened, I Want Revenge was the last to leave and fell way behind his seven rivals. But under a cool ride from Joe Talamo, I Want Revenge made a stirring run down the stretch and pulled away for his second straight stakes win. West Side Bernie finished second and Just a Coincidence was third in the 1 1-8-mile Wood, New York’s major prep for the Derby on May 2. I Want Revenge won the Gotham Stakes at the Big A last month.

Ashland Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Hooh Why pulled a huge upset in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, foiling Stardom Bound’s attempt at a sixth consecutive Grade I win. With substitute jockey Corey Lanerie aboard, Hooh Why took the lead at the quarter pole and never relinquished it. Gozzip Girl was a neck behind. Stardom Bound, better than an even-money favorite, had to settle for third. Hooh Why was the second longest shot on the board at 24-1. She won for the third time in 10 lifetime starts but for the first time in a Grade I race. Next up is likely an appearance in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Hooh Why paid $50, $15.40 and $6.20. Gozzip Girl returned $8.80 and $4.20. Stardom Bound was $2.10 to show.

Associated Press