Two Phil’s And Trainer Larry Rivelli Racing For Chicago In Kentucky Derby
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If Two Phil’s pulls off an unexpected victory in Saturday’s 149th Kentucky Derby, it will be a significant win for Illinois horse racing and a fitting tribute to the beloved Arlington International Racecourse, which is dearly missed.
Larry Rivelli, a Chicago native and the trainer of Two Phil’s, discovered his love for horse racing at Arlington Park when he was just a young child. He often spent time on the backstretch with his grandfather, the late Pete DiVito, a well-known horse trainer in Chicago. This early exposure to the sport had a lasting impact on Rivelli, inspiring him to follow in his family’s footsteps as a third-generation horse trainer. His uncle, Jimmy DiVito, has also been a successful trainer in the Chicago area for more than fifty years.
Rivelli didn’t just become a horse trainer, he achieved nine trainer championships at Arlington, including a remarkable streak of eight consecutive wins from 2014 to the track’s final meet in 2021. In 2022, the Chicago Bears’ ownership purchased the track with plans to build a new stadium and Illinois sportsbook. Rivelli now houses his 70-horse stable at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, the last remaining horse racing track in Chicago.
Two Phils, the first Derby starter for Rivelli, also resides at Hawthorne.
Two Phil’s would provide an all-Illinois victory in the Derby
Two Phil’s, a horse from Illinois, is the first competitor from the state to participate in the Kentucky Derby in 16 years. The previous contender was Recapturetheglory, who placed fifth in the 2007 race won by Street Sense. Interestingly, Two Phil’s father, Hard Spun, also competed in the 2007 Derby, finishing in second place.
It has been 21 years since a horse from Illinois, War Emblem, won the Derby in 2002.
If two Phils were to win at Churchill Downs on Saturday, it would result in a complete triumph for Illinois.
A three-year-old chestnut colt, sired by Hard Spun and Mia Torri, was bred by Phil Sagan, an advertising executive from Bloomingdale. Sagan, in partnership with Madaket Stables, holds a 20% ownership stake in the horse, while the remaining 80% is owned by Pat and Vinnie Foglia, Jr., clients of Rivelli from Chicago’s northwestern suburbs. They race under the name Patricia’s Hope LLC.
Jareth Loveberry, a jockey from Chicago who is making his first appearance at the Derby, like Rivelli, has been chosen to ride Two Phil’s.
Starting from post 3, the horse is listed at 12-1 in the morning line. Handicappers believe its chances are even better. By Friday afternoon, Two Phil’s odds had improved to 8-1.
Where you can bet on the Kentucky Derby in Illinois
There are many betting options for horse races in Illinois, including the recently legalized FanDuel Racing app.
You can also bet:
- There are two live racetracks in Illinois, the Hawthorne Race Course and the FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing near St. Louis, both of which provide on-site betting windows.
- Illinois-based gamblers can easily place bets on several online racebooks such as TVG, Club Hawthorne, NYRA Bets, TwinSpires, and XpressBet.
- Off-track betting parlors, known as OTBs, are located in various cities throughout Illinois.
Hawthorne, with a major investment in Two Phil’s, is hosting what they say is the biggest Kentucky Derby party in Chicago. The event will include live music, an outdoor BBQ festival, craft beer tasting, a charity chili cook-off, a live broadcast by 670 The Score with Big Doug, and tent lounges with several high-definition TVs for watching the race.
Expect Two Phil’s to be a top choice in Hawthorne betting, especially given that the horse’s trainer is a true Chicagoan.
Rivelli’s Chicago roots run Blues Brothers deep
Not only did Rivelli spend his youth running around the backstretch at Arlington, but he also has a small connection to another iconic Chicago institution.
At only nine years old, he was a dancing extra in The Blues Brothers, a tribute to Chicago by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Dressed in grey, Rivelli can be spotted dancing during Ray Charles’ performance of Twist It. We suspect Rivelli is the individual highlighted in the image provided.
Perhaps that is what inspired the charismatic Rivelli to produce a video in 2010 highlighting his expertise in training.
The North Barrington resident has coached successful horses that have earned over $36 million and achieved 1,773 wins in nearly 7,000 races. Currently ranked second in the Hawthorne trainer standings, he led the Hawthorne spring meet in 2022 and finished second in the fall meet the year before.
Rivelli revealed to Joe Perez this week that even though he has had a successful career, Two Phil’s is his first Kentucky Derby contender with a legitimate shot at victory.
“A lot of guys are ambitious, with their entries and thinking they might have a little more than they do. Always want to go with a loaded gun, so to speak. This is the first time I’ve had a loaded gun for this particular distance, this particular age group, this particular scenario.”
Two Phil’s has consistently trained at Hawthorne, despite not having competed on either of the two tracks in Illinois.
The horse came into the world due to the fortunate timing of a beginner from suburban Chicago.
Two Phil’s Illinois origin story
Sagan’s first Thoroughbred acquisition, Mia Torri, laid the foundation for Two Phil’s after enjoying a lucrative racing career, earning over $300,000 in prize money from 10 victories. Following her retirement, Sagan opted to breed her with Hard Spun, a decision influenced by renowned Chicago racing figures Jerry La Sala and Steve Leving.
The first foal sadly perished, so the second one was named Two Phil’s to pay tribute to Phil Sagan and Phil La Sala, Jerry’s father.
Sagan made two unsuccessful attempts to sell Two Phil’s before the horse began racing. Disappointed with the offers, Sagan’s family turned to Rivelli for help. Rivelli then arranged for the Foglias to buy 80% of the colt.
The Foglias also have deep connections to Chicago.
In 1971, Vince Foglia Sr. launched Sage Products LLC, a medical tech company. The company was acquired by Michigan’s Stryker Corporation in 2016 for approximately $2.7 billion. Subsequently, the Foglia family shifted their focus to philanthropy through The Foglia Family Foundation. Furthermore, Pat and Vinnie, Jr. ventured into horse ownership. Vinnie, Jr. later formed a successful partnership in racing with Rivelli after striking up a friendship with him.
Vinnie, Jr. held the title of top owner at Arlington for seven years in a row during its operation from 2015 to 2021.
Jockey Jareth Loveberry, originally from Chicago, saw his career take off in 2019 when he began riding at Arlington. However, with Arlington’s closure, Loveberry now mostly competes in Kentucky while his family still resides in Chicago. Whenever he has a day off, Loveberry makes the five-hour drive from Churchill Downs to visit his loved ones in Chicago.
Rivelli hoping to win it for Illinois
Rivelli, who has lived in Chicago his whole life, is determined to bring home a Derby win for his city and state. He firmly believes that Two Phil’s has what it takes to rise to the occasion.
Rivelli told Mitchell Armentrout of the Chicago Sun-Times that quality horses can be found in any location.
The calm and collected attitude of the two Phils is likely to be beneficial.
A crowd of 150,000 people will be in a frenzy, causing other horses to become flustered, sweaty, and nervous. Despite this chaos, he exudes a sense of tranquility, appearing unaffected by fear. He doesn’t rush out of the starting gate but instead waits for the perfect moment to begin his race when he sees an opening.
Should Larry Rivelli and his fellow Chicagoans emerge victorious in the winner’s circle as the sun dips below the iconic twin spires on Saturday, he will surely cherish fond memories of his grandfather and Arlington for years to come.
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