by Jeff Squibb, communications manager, Illinois Dept. of Agriculture

Springfield, IL — Donato Hanover, the champion 2-year-old colt trotter of last season, heads a list of 37 eligibles to the $550,000 (est.) World Trotting Derby, to be contested on September 1 at the Du Quoin State Fair.

This year the trotting classic will be contested under a new format that calls for ten finalists racing one heat for the entire purse. The finalists will be the horses with the highest earnings at time of entry.

Last year Donato Hanover was the overwhelming star of his class. He won eight of his nine starts and $662,587. He took a 1:55 record in winning the Peter Haughton Memorial by 2-3/4 lengths at The Meadowlands. Donato dominated throughout the season and won the Breeders Crown by four lengths in late October.

Donato Hanover was so impressive that he’s already earned a spot in the stud barn at Hanover Shoe Farms, where his sire Andover Hall stands. Donato Hanover was syndicated during the past winter and breeders from around the world eagerly snapped up the breeding shares.

The mile track at Du Quoin is famed for its speed-conducive surface and Andover Hall equaled the 1:51.3 world record for trotters when he won the 2002 World Trotting Derby. The connections of Donato Hanover hope that he will emulate his sire’s accomplishments.

The fastest trotting mile in history came in the World Trotting Derby when Tom Ridge sailed to a 1:50.2 clocking over the mile oval in 2004.

The World Trotting Derby could have a truly international flavor if Adrian Chip travels to Du Quoin to challenge Donato Hanover. Adrian Chip finished third behind Donato Hanover in the Breeders Crown, and was sold to Swedish interests last December. He is also a son of Andover Hall and a match between Donato Hanover and Adrian Chip could be an interesting duel.

Among the other stars of the 2006 season that made the sustaining payment for the World Trotting Derby this summer are Quite Easy, Snowboarder, Stunt Man Hall, and The Bosses Lindy.

Possess The Magic tops World Trotting Derby filly eligibles

The richest 2-year-old trotter of 2006, the filly Possess The Magic, leads a list of 40 eligibles to the World Trotting Derby filly division to be contested on August 31 at the Du Quoin State Fair.

The daughter of Self Possessed won nine of 13 starts and was second three times last season. That was good enough to bring her bankroll to $697,540 at the end of 2006.

Possess The Magic capped her season with a convincing 1-3/4 length victory over Pampered Princess in the $600,000 Breeders Crown at Woodbine in Toronto, Ontario.

Two starts earlier she had become the fastest 2-year-old trotting filly in harness racing history with a 1:54.2 win over The Red Mile track in Lexington.

The star filly is owned by her breeder, Brittany Farms of Versailles, Ky. She is trained by Ron Gurfein and driven by Mike Lachance.

Possess The Magic could have competition in the filly division of the World Trotting Derby from several of the best 2-year-old trotting fillies of the 2006 campaign.

Gerri’s Joy, winner of the $537,000 Merrie Annabelle last summer, is also among the eligibles. She won three of her eight starts last year and ended with a healthy bankroll of $394,223.

Falls For You, winner of the late-season classic Goldsmith Maid for freshman trotting fillies, is also being pointed at the World Trotting Derby filly race. She defeated Gerri’s Joy by four lengths in winning the $410,000 Goldsmith Maid.

Michelle’s Angel is another top first-season star from 2006 hoping to show up ready to do battle in Du Quoin. She earned $232,692 last year while winning five of her 14 starts.

With so many of the best 3-year-old trotting fillies in North America eligible to the World Trotting Derby, the 2007 renewal could be one of the most exciting in the race’s history.