Long-shot Done Talking won the $500,000 Illinois Derby on Saturday, beating Morgan's Guerrilla by three-quarters of a length at Hawthorne Race Course.
Ridden by Sheldon Russell, Done Talking ran 1-1/8 miles in 1 minute, 53.88 seconds on the fast track from the No. 13 post position. The winner split between Morgan's Guerrilla and Our Entourage just inside the one-eighth pole.
''As long as I could get him close enough at the top of the lane, I knew he would come home,'' Russell said.
Morgan's Guerrilla battled Our Entourage throughout the stretch. Then, as Morgan's Guerrilla veered to the outside, Done Talking made his move.
''You always look for what's happening in front of you and I was lucky enough that horse (Morgan's Guerrilla) just drifted at the right time, just as I was getting toward him,'' Russell said. ''It just made my job a little bit easier in regards to riding the horse and steering him at the same time.''
Done Talking was ninth in the record 14-horse field after three-quarters of a mile, and moved up to third at the head of the stretch.
''I just wanted to get my horse close enough, so that when he did kick in he was going to be close enough to get there,'' Russell said. ''I was very surprised when we turned for home. I think I was in fourth place. I knew that I still had some horse.''
Done Talking returned $27.10 for a $2 win bet.
Hakama, an 11-1 shot, was third. Our Entourage faded to fifth. Favorite Currency Swap finished a distant 11th.
Trained by Hamilton A. Smith, Done Talking is owned by Skeedattle Stable.
''The kid did a great job of riding him,'' Smith said. ''Hopefully, it's on to Louisville (Kentucky Derby) from here.''
