by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Du Quoin, IL — With the racing surface at Du Quoin producing fast miles all week, an all-age world record for trotting in the World Trotting Derby is a real possibility. Here’s a compilation of the records that could be broken come Saturday:

In the colt division: Better than 1:50.2 for the all-age, all-everything record for trotting. The record is currently co-held by Tom Ridge, who set the mark in winning the September 4, 2004 World Trotting Derby. It is co-held by Vivid Photo, who won the World Trotting Derby in 2005, but took a mark of 1:50.2 as a 4-year-old in 2006 at Colonial Downs in Virginia. That is also a one mile track, but one with just one turn, so it is a different configuration than Du Quoin, which is a traditional two-turn mile.

In the filly division: Better than 1:52.3 for a stakes record (set by Act Of Grace in 1996). Better than 1:52 for a 3-year-old trotting filly record (set by Queen Serene at The Red Mile in the Kentucky Filly Futurity in 2006). Better than 1:51.4 for an all-age female world record (set by Beat The Wheel in 1994 and Peaceful Way in 2005). Better than 1:50.2 for the all-age, all gender world record.

Purse Breakdown

Conditions for the World Trotting Derby call for each starter to share in the purse. The purse breakdown for the World Trotting Derby is as follows, starting with the winner through ninth and last place: $291,000, $135,000, $66,000, $42,000, $24,000, $15,000, $12,000, $9,000, and $6,000.

For the filles, the purse distribution is $72,750, $33,750, $16,500, $10,500, $6,000, $3,750, $3,000, $2,250, and $1,500.

Driver changes

Dave Magee will drive Standpoint, a change from trainer Trond Smedshammer, in the World Trotting Derby.