Richman Wins the Illinois Derby at Sportsman’s Park
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
1991-With Jerry Bailey aboard, Florida-bred Richman won the Grade 2 Illinois Derby at Sportsman’s Park for his second Derby victory.
After winning the Grade 3 Louisiana Derby with jockey Pat Day at Fair Grounds on March 3, Richman and Day teamed up to finish second to Hansel in the Grade 2 Jim Beam at Turfway Park on March 30. They then finished third in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby won by Olympio at Oaklawn Park on April 20.
Trainer Bill Mott skipped the Kentucky Derby with Richman and instead chose the $500,000 Illionois Derby, going into the mile-and-one-eighth test against a full gate of 13 rivals.
Florida-bred Media Plan and jockey Julio Garcia jumped out to lead the Illinois Derby by a half-length through the first quarter mile in a blazing :21.89 with Shoot to Kill to his outside in second. Bailey, aboard for the first time, kept Richman a length-a-half back in third then began to close the gap on the two two leaders down the backstretch.
Media Plan and Shoot to Kill were unable to maintain the torrid pace as Richman shot passed them after a half-mile in :45.31 and was five-lengths clear while leading around the far turn. Richman stretched his advantage to more than eight lengths in long Sportsman’s Park stretch and was still six-and-a-half lengths clear of runner-up Doc of the Day under the wire, finishing in 1:49.36 on the fast track. Nowork All Play was third.
Owned by the Estate of William F. Lucas, Richman would race through his 5-year-old year to finish his career with earnings of $1,314,360 from 14 wins, five seconds and five thirds in 33 starts.
Out of Dazzling Concorde, by Super Concorde, Richman was bred in Florida by Scott Savin.
