Following some much-needed rain in the Chicagoland area, the $100,000 Hawthorne Derby was contested at 1 1/8 miles over a yielding turf course on a blustery Sunday card. The field of six was led by 6-5 favorite Out of Deductions for trainer Chris Block. A close second choice at 8-5 was Really Good for Mike Maker.
When the gates sprung it was the Larry Rivelli trainee Act a Fool who quickly grabbed the lead under jockey Alexis Centeno and opened up a 4½-length lead through the opening quarter in :24.32. With longshots Wolf Hunter and Russian Hammer chasing on the backstretch, Act a Fool cruised through a half in :49.80.
Into the far turn, the field started to bunch up as favored Out of Deductions drew within a couple of lengths of Act a Fool through six furlongs in 1:13.92. Centeno asked Act a Fool for his best at the top of the lane and the Oscar Performance colt willingly responded, opening up again on the lead and cruising to a 4½-length score in 1:52.62.
Really Good rallied from the back of the pack to finish second while Out of Deductions held third followed by Wolf Hunter, Russian Hammer, and Money Agent to complete the order of finish.
Owned by Richard Ravin and Patricia's Hope LLC of Vince Foglia, Act a Fool earned $60,000 for the victory and improved his career line to 4-0-0 from five career starts–he did not start as a 2-year-old–and $116,548 in earnings. A $100,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Paramount Sales consigned him, he was bred in Kentucky by Brook T. Smith Investments LLC. His dam is the Quality Road mare Post Script.
Act a Fool is the second Derby winner this weekend for Rivelli, following Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Two Phil's triumph in the Ohio Derby (G3) Saturday at Thistledown Racino.
Act A Fool paid $8.40 for the win as the 3-1 third wagering choice.
Centeno was confident that Act a Fool would get the job done Sunday.
“He's bred for anything,” Centeno said. “Obviously, we knew he could run well on dirt. But I knew he was going to run big today. We just needed to be patient. He never ran this far, but I knew we had plenty left when we turned into the stretch. He did everything himself. He was very comfortable. As soon as we came out of the turn and asked him to go, he did. He was running easy.”
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