Weekend Watch: Indiana Grand, Delaware Park lead the way

The Derby may have come and gone, but it is still Derby season. Both the Indiana Derby and the Los Alamitos Derby are carded for Saturday, with the Indiana Oaks complementing the Indiana Grand feature. There are several minor stakes on the Delaware and Indiana Grand undercards, but we will focus on just the biggest races this weekend, including the return of Elate in the Delaware Handicap.

Read on for the highlights, with all times in Eastern Standard.

Untamed Domain looking for a win in the Kent

Graham Motion trained Untamed Domain is looking for his first victory since taking the Summer Stakes (G2) at Woodbine back in September. Since then, he has run competitively but just has not been able to find his way back to the winner’s circle. He will hope to change that in Saturday’s Kent Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old turf routers. He is the class of the field and should have no excuses barring anything crazy happening during the race. Undefeated Carrick is a proven commodity at the distance but is taking a big step up in class. Blame the Rider has been a completely different colt since being moved to the turf and could certainly make some noise. Post time is 4:56 p.m.

Elate returns in the Delaware Handicap

Off since running fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), Elate makes her much anticipated 2018 bow in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap. By Medaglia d’Oro, the filly likes both the 1 ¼-mile distance and Delaware Park, but asking her to win at 10 furlongs off an eight-month layoff is a rather tall order. She is favored to win, but I see her as a bit of a false favorite. Unbridled Mo, on the other hand, is much more fit than Elate and has run well while facing tougher. Mopotism is another that could make a good run, but she is far from consistent. Meanwhile, Farrell is more consistent but the distance might prove her undoing. Post time is 5:35 p.m.

Seeking the Soul stands tall in Michael G. Schaefer Memorial

Clark (G1) winner Seeking the Soul has raced just once this year, running fifth in the Pegasus World Cup (G1). While trainer Dallas Stewart had the 5-year-old under consideration for other races, we have not seen his charge since then. He gets a big class relief here in the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes and is the deserving 3-5 favorite on the morning line. The only other runner I would look at here is Lookin At Lee, who is also stepping down in class after finishing eighth in the Stephen Foster (G1). If you’re playing the all stakes Pick 3 or Pick 4, which includes the Indiana General Assembly Distaff, the Warrior Veterans Stakes, and the Indiana Oaks (Pick 4 only), this is a good spot to single a selection or use just two and move on. Post time is 7:24 p.m.

Talk Veuve to Me looking to break through in Indiana Oaks

Talk Veuve to Me has run two bang up seconds since breaking her maiden back in March. By Violence, she finished second in both the Eight Belles (G2) and the Acorn (G1). The Grade 3 Indiana Oaks is a definite step down for the filly after facing Monomoy Girl in her last start, which makes her a legitimate even money favorite. Kelly’s Humor isn’t necessarily a win threat, but I could see her picking up a check after facing much tougher earlier in the year. Skeptic has been in good form and could also hit the board. Figarella’s Queen is out of the Grade 1-winning turf mare Nereid and has done most of her running on the lawn, as well. However, she won on the dirt in her last start, making her an interesting entrant here. Post time is 9:01 p.m.

Indiana Derby draws nine

Matt Winn (G3) victor King Zachary tops the Indiana Derby (G3) and will be looking to string together three consecutive victories. There’s a good bit of value to be had here, however, as there are some nice runners that will likely go off at lucrative odds. Trigger Warning was most recently third in the Ohio Derby (G3) where he earned his best Equibase number to date. Blame the Rider, who is cross-entered in the Kent Stakes at Delaware Park, is 6-1 on the morning line, though I cannot figure out why. He’s ran well in his last three starts, but those were on the lawn. Prior to that, he barely ran a lick on the dirt. Givemeaminit has a tendency to run big at high odds, and Title Ready likes to finish fourth in stakes races. Post time is 9:48 p.m.

Only five in the Los Alamitos Derby

The nine-furlong Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby attracted just five runners with the top three on the morning line looking like winners. Favored Ax Man was third in the Matt Winn (G3) last out. Blended Citizen ran a dull ninth in the Belmont (G1) last month but won the Peter Pan (G3) two starts back. Draft Pick ran his best career race when winning the Affirmed (G3) in his most recent start. Post time is 7:28 p.m.