Newgate Farm shuttler The Factor (USA) continued his recent run of success when his three-year-old son Multiplier finished fast to claim Saturday’s $250,000 Group III Illinois Derby at Hawthorne.
After being hung up on the rails the Brendan Walsh-trained colt claimed the favourite Hedge Fund in the final strides to win by a head with four and a half lengths back to third placed It’s Your Nickel.
Making his fourth start Multiplier was winning for the second time and first at stakes level.
“Turning for home I was pretty sure we were going to get there,” winning rider James Graham said.
“For a moment when Jose’s horse (Hedge Fund) spurted away, he kind of caught my horse flat but Multiplier went right after him all the way to the wire and got up by maybe a neck.”
“He might have settled a bit too well. He’s kind of lazy. But he has a great career ahead of him. Have you seen him? He’s gorgeous. All kidding aside, he’s a beautiful horse and Brendan has done a great job with him. I’m just happy to be a part of this.”
Unraced at two, Multiplier is the best of two winners out of the stakes-placed Trippi mare Trippi Street and has earnings of $187,310 from his four starts.
He is the fifth stakes-winner for The Factor, who returns to Newgate this spring at a fee of $11,000.