Sunday, November 22, 2009 East Central Illinois

Sports of All Sorts

A Kentucky Derby winner from Champaign?

Posted by: Tony Bleill

Thursday, February 5, 2009 12:22 AM

Chris Block, a native of rural Champaign and a graduate of Villa Grove High School, has long established himself as one of the best thoroughbred trainers on the Chicago circuit. When he trained Vacare to a victory in the Grade I Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Keeneland a couple years ago, he hit a milestone that seemed to take his career to the next level.

But now Block is embarking on a journey that could lead to the highest glory known in his sport: A Kentucky Derby victory.

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Block trains the promising 3-year-old Giant Oak, who enjoyed a solid 2-year-old season and will take his next step toward a possible Derby start in Saturday's Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Giant Oak is the tepid 3-1 morning line favorite in a good field of 13. Giant Oak has been training extremely well in New Orleans, and he appears set for a good effort.

Daily Racing Form has a nice story on Block and Giant Oak here. We'll keep you updated on the colt's progress as he travels through the Triple Crown prep races.

 

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