Indiana Derby Preview!
The 21st running of the $500,000 added Indiana Derby (G2) at Indiana Grand features some of the most talented three-year-old colts in the country. The Indiana Derby has produced several top quality stakes horses that have gone on to have incredible careers such as the millionaire Brass Hat and two Preakness winners in Champion colt Lookin at Lucky for Bob Baffert and Shackleford for Dale Romans. Caleb’s Posse used his third place finish in the Indiana Derby as a springboard to his 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile win.
The “Coach”, Hall of Fame trainer D.Wayne Lukas, sends out the 2/1 morning line favorite #1 Mr.Z. The son of Malibu Moon hasn’t ducked anyone and at the same time has danced all the dances for Lukas. He’s faced the Triple Crown champion American Pharoah three times in his last four races. Mr.Z is coming in off an impressive gritty win in the $500,000 Ohio Derby. The Lukas charge showed his customary speed while setting moderate fractions. He dug in gamely holding off the runs of Tencendur and fellow Indiana Derby competitor, Divining Rod to win the Ohio Derby by a nose. Joe Bravo retains the mount in the Indiana Derby for Mr.Z
The Arnaud Delacour trainee, #2 Divining Rod is the 5/2 second choice in the Indiana Derby. The son of Tapit is looking for his second graded stakes win with his first coming in the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland. Alex Cintron will be in the irons for the first time and will be looking to turn the tables on Mr. Z. Divining Rod finished a distant third in the Preakness but has shown flashes of brilliance. He may be very tough to beat if he gets the lead at the top of the stretch.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott sends out #3 Tiz Shea D. The son of Tiznow is 6/1 on the morning line and is looking for his second career win. Jockey Jose Lezcano is in the irons for the third straight race and seems to have gotten a feel for this hard trying colt. Tiz Shea D is lightly race but has faced some of the top three-year-olds in the country in Frosted and El Kabeir. He disappointed in the Wood Memorial and the Peter Pan but appears to be on the improve. Bill Mott trained horses are known to improve with time and this one should get a good stalking trip and is very dangerous at a price.
Steve Asmussen sends out the 12/1 long shot #5 Bold Conquest. The son of Curlin disappointed in his last start in the Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs. A change of scenery might just be what this horse needs. Jockey Ricardo Santana will be in the irons and he’ll be hoping for a quick pace early to close into. He stands a puncher's chance.
Trainer Ian Wilkes sends out the 3/1 shot #6 Island Town. The royally bred son of Hard Spun out of the Distorted Humor mare Humorous Gal is coming in off two impressive wins at Churchill Downs. Island Town went gate to wire in the Matt Winn but has the versatility to come off the pace. He has a big shot in the Indiana Derby but he’ll have to answer the question: can he take his track with him? All of his wins have come at Churchill Downs. Jockey Julien Leparoux retains the mount.
Ron Moquett sends out 12/1 shot #7 Far Right. Far Right has to be the value in this race. He’s a two-time stakes winner with wins in the Smarty Jones and the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. The son of Notional picks up jockey Corey Lanerie for the first time. Lanerie will be hoping to put Far Right a little closer to the pace than he’s been in his previous races. Far Right caught a very speed favoring track in the Ohio Derby where Mr.Z, Tencendur, and Divining Rod basically ran 1 – 2 – 3 all the way around the track. Far Right will be hoping for a hot pace early so he can mow them all down late.
Tim Glyshaw sends out the 20/1 shot #8 Deliverance Day. The son of Purim is riding a two-race win streak with back-to-back wins coming at Churchill Downs. He’s shown he can win at multiple tracks and against good horses having defeated Preakness runner up Tale of Verve in his maiden win at the Fair Grounds. This is a big jump up in class for Deliverance Day but Glyshaw said he’s doing well and has earned the right to see where he stands against the top tier horses. He’ll also be looking for a hot pace early. He’s three for four at the 8.5 furlong distance and will have Albin Jimenez in the irons. Albin is one of the leading riders in Indiana and is very familiar with the Indiana Grand surface.