All Systems Go for Indiana Derby Day

 

McPeek looks to add Indiana Derby win to his credentials 

Trainer Ken McPeek saddled 2013 Indiana Oaks winner Pure Fun, and sends out CJ's Awesome in this year's Grade 2 Indiana Derby. Set as third choice at 8-1 in the morning line, he makes just his second stakes appearance after dead heating for 4th in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby on September 20.

 

"He's a sturdy horse and came out of the race fine," McPeek said.

 

When asked about the quick turnaround, "it's the last straight 3yo dirt race."

 

CJ's Awesome will arrive in Lexington, Ky. this evening by plane from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., then ship to Indiana Grand Saturday morning.

 

"If he runs like he did in his last race, we'll be fine. As far as speed, I'll leave it to Edgar (Prado) and how he feels under him," McPeek said. 

Jeremy Rose makes second start in Indiana Derby 

Jeremy Rose, Indiana Grand’s third leading rider this year, makes a return to the Indiana Derby as he will guide Quiet Ruler from post six at odds of 15-1. It is the first time Rose will be aboard the Nick Zito-trained horse.

 

“I first met Nick (Zito) back in 2005 at Gulfstream and he gave me a shot and put me on some live horses,” said Rose. “I saw he was coming to run in the Indiana Derby with Quiet Ruler so I reached out to him. He's a really nice horse and looks like he wants more distance so the mile and a sixteenth should suit him well. He comes closing so the distance won't be an issue.”

Rose’s only other start in the Indiana Derby was recorded in 2003 when he rode Ashmore to a sixth place finish for Trainer Mario Pino.

 

Undercard taking shape Derby Night 

In addition to the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks and Indiana Derby on Saturday, four Indiana bred stakes help make up the 11-race card. Trainer Randy Matthews sends out multiple stakes winner Cactus Joe in the $85,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes for registered Indiana bred three year old fillies at one mile and one sixteenth.  She tested older company for the first time in her career in the Merrillville Stakes and drew away to win by more than five lengths.  

 

"The race sets up good for her," Matthews said. "There is some speed in there.  I see her tracking the leaders, maybe not showing quite as much speed. She missed a little training because of a foot infection. It actually showed up right before the last race. But she comes in fresh and is doing good."

 

Another solid contender in the field is trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel's Storm Rush who makes her stakes debut. She scored the maiden victory over the Indiana Grand track at a mile facing state breds in early June, then scored a first level allowance routing against state breds.

 

"She loves that track," Von Hemel said from his barn at Churchill. "She showed a lot a speed in her races there, but I'll leave that up to Chris (Landeros). I'm looking forward to her first stakes race."

 

The race kicks off Indiana Derby night and is the 1st race on the card with a post time of 5:05PM. The field in post position order for The Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes: Camara Ann (McBride/De La Cruz), Elegant Mode (Drury/Franklin), Storm Rush (Von Hemel/Landeros), Cactus Joe (Matthews/Rossi), Lena Love (Gorham/Hernandez), Mary N' Eileen (McBurney/Lopez), Secondhand Justice (Short/Mojica), Cavalleria (Gorham/Torres).

 

Trainer Barbara McBride sends out stakes placed Notionofmine in The Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes for three year olds at one mile and one sixteenth. He faced open allowance company in mid-September and finished 2nd despite clipping heels and stumbling.

 

"He came out of the race great," McBride said. "I think he'll handle the distance well. He's bred for it.  He's training forwardly and ready to go."

 

Stakes placed Got Grit for trainer Tracy Wisner is also in the twelve horse field. He got up for 3rd at 52-1 in the 6f Brickyard Stakes on September 10.

 

"We're going to try him two turns again. It's our last 3yo Indy stake and I think he's majorly on the improve training well. If we get an off track, that'll help us even more. As far as pace, we'll see what everyone else does and get a feel for the pace.  But he'll probably be a little closer going the route of ground."

 

It is carded as race 5 with a post time of 6:49PM. The field in the post position order for The Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes: Buckshot Roberts (Roberts/Esquilin), Bourne Free (Klopp/De La Cruz), Notionofmine (McBride/Jimenez), Mister Pollard (Lauer/Saez), Got Grit (Wisner/Contreras), Fran's Flatter (Duran/Lebron), Salute the Music (Klopp/Rossi), Proud Azteca (Maker/Napravnik), Hadda Notion (Lauer/Pedroza), Victor Jara (Davis/Franklin), Alldaylong (Patterson/Torres), U S Frequentflyer (Hamilton/Mojica).

Torres recalls 1996 Indiana Derby win aboard Canyon Run 

Francisco Torres, currently a top five rider at Indiana Grand, is part of Indiana Derby history. He guided Canyon Run to victory in the 1996 event, the second running of the race, when the purse was only $100,000.

 

I rode Canyon Run as part of an entry to win the 1996 Indiana Derby,” said Torres. “It was back when they ran the race at Hoosier. It was the best race he had ever run and he beat some really good horses that day. The quality of horses for the Indiana Derby has just gotten better over the years. It's great to see the fans come out and I'm looking forward to watching this years running.”

Canyon Run set a new track record at the time at Hoosier Park with his win in the Indiana Derby, covering the one and one-sixteenth mile race in a time of 1:41.40.

Live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues through Saturday, Nov. 1 offering racing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 2:05 p.m. with Friday and Saturday action beginning at 5:05 p.m. For more information, visit the Website at indianagrand.com.