Axelrod goes last to first in 2018 Indiana Derby upset

It was an upset in the Grade 3, $500,000 Indiana Derby Saturday, with California-shipper Axelrod rallying from last to first to earn his first stakes win.

Under the guidance of Florent Geroux, Axelrod ran down the pacesetter, Trigger Warning, to get up just in time at the finish line. It was also the fourth win on the Indiana Grand card for Geroux.

“Great trip,” Geroux said. “You know, (seemed like) a speed-favoring track, and everybody sent. I said, ‘You know what? Let’s just go to the fence and hope to get lucky.’

Axelrod, a $25,000 purchase whose first career win came in maiden claiming, worked his way up the Southern California ranks with trainer Michael McCarthy and Slam Dunk Racing, even finishing second in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes to Draft Pick last time out.

“He’s by Warrior’s Reward. It’s a late-developing family, and this horse is just getting better all the time,” McCarthy said from California. “We gave him a little bit of a break over the winter. It seemed to do him some good, and everything he’s done since then has just been great.”

Off at 12-1 in the Indiana Derby, Axelrod dropped back while Trigger Warning set fractions of :23.65 and :47.86 through the first half-mile. Blame the Rider, Givemeaminit and Dark Vader all took advantage of their inside post positions to sit close behind Trigger Warning. King Zachary was in tight with The Money Dance and Title Ready, while Funny Duck took up the rear with Axelrod.

King Zachary, winner of the Grade 3 Matt Winn last out, was the 8-5 favorite but could never get up to go with Trigger Warning in the homestretch. The pacesetter stood a chance to lead all the way. Title Ready was gaining ground, but Trigger Warning continued to pull away. He nearly pulled off the feat, but Axelrod was making up ground fast, passing Title Ready and continuing to close the gap.

It was Axelrod to hit the wire a head in front, wrapping up the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 flat.

“That was close at the end,” Geroux said when asked if he thought he could catch Trigger Warning. “I mean I’m not sure. But the last two jumps, my horse just kept running on.”

Title Ready ran on for third and King Zachary managed fourth. Dark Vader, Funny Duck, The Money Dance, Givemeaminit and Blame the Rider completed the order of finish. 

Although McCarthy doesn’t have a definite next race in mind, he’s mulling over Axelrod’s options. With respectable races on both dirt and turf, McCarthy has a few spots in mind.

“I’m not sure about the spacing to the [Aug. 4, Grade 3] West Virginia Derby. Maybe a race like the [Aug. 25, Grade 1] Travers,” McCarthy said. “We’ll let him dictate where we go next. There is no real standout 3-year-old race here at Del Mar. So most likely he will get on the road somewhere…. We can also take a look at the [Aug. 11, Grade 1] Secretariat [on the turf] later on this summer. He’s a very hard-trying horse.”