The Illini Princess Handicap returns to Hawthorne RaceCourse in Cicero, Illinois, featuring a competitive field of fillies and mares aged three and up. This one-mile turf race offers a $50,000 purse, attracting some of the best Illinois-bred contenders.
Race Details
- Event: Illini Princess Handicap
- Date: Sunday, June 15, 2025
- Time: 4:47 PM ET
- Venue: Hawthorne RaceCourse, Cicero, IL
- Surface: Turf
- Distance: 1 mile
- Purse: $50,000
Top Contenders & Horse Profiles
1. Journeyist (USA)
- Jockey: Luis Colon
- Trainer: Michele Boyce
- Pedigree: Sired by Tourist, out of Beeway
- Career Record: 20 starts – 4 wins, 4 places, 3 shows
- Strengths: Strong track specialist with a 55% top-three finish rate.
2. Miss River Rat (USA)
- Jockey: Orlando Mojica
- Trainer: Chris Block
- Pedigree: Sired by Will Take Charge, out of Peyote Patty
- Career Record: 15 starts – 3 wins, 3 places, 5 shows
- Strengths: Consistent performer with a 73% top-three finish rate.
3. Oeuvre (USA)
- Jockey: Walter Rodriguez
- Trainer: Chris Block
- Pedigree: Sired by Shackleford, out of Love This Kitten
- Career Record: 26 starts – 14 wins, 2 places, 2 shows
- Strengths: Last-start winner, boasting a 54% win rate.
4. Yankee Dollar (USA)
- Jockey: Frank Reyes
- Trainer: Marcus Vitali
- Pedigree: Sired by California Chrome, out of Red Neck Song
- Career Record: 19 starts – 6 wins, 6 places, 3 shows
- Strengths: 79% top-three finish rate, making her a strong contender.
5. Queen Judith (USA)
- Jockey: Jareth Loveberry
- Trainer: Larry Rivelli
- Pedigree: Sired by Empire Maker, out of Starlight Tiara
- Career Record: 11 starts – 1 win, 3 places, 2 shows
- Strengths: Trainer-jockey combo has a solid top-three finish record.
6. R Katiebug (USA)
- Jockey: Alexis Centeno
- Trainer: Michele Boyce
- Pedigree: Sired by Dominus, out of Katie the Lady
- Career Record: 13 starts – 3 wins, 4 places, 2 shows
- Strengths: 69% top-three finish rate, showing strong consistency.
7. Breezing Along (USA)
- Jockey: Olaf Hernandez
- Trainer: Anna Meah
- Pedigree: Sired by Runhappy, out of Mata Mua
- Career Record: 14 starts – 2 wins, 2 places
- Strengths: Struggled in recent races but has potential for improvement.
Race Analysis & Predictions
- Favorites: Oeuvre (5/2), Yankee Dollar (6/1), Journeyist (15/1)
- Dark Horse: Miss River Rat (12/1) – Strong track specialist with a high place percentage.
- Prediction: Oeuvre wins, Yankee Dollar places, Miss River Rat shows
Oeuvre’s dominant win record and recent form make her the top contender, while Yankee Dollar’s track experience and Miss River Rat’s consistency could lead to a strong finish.
