Baffert Nominates Three to Indiana Derby

Triple Crown winning trainer Bob Baffert has connected for three wins in the Grade II $500,000-added Indiana Derby, the state’s richest horse race, and he may attempt a fourth win in the 21st running of the event set for Saturday, July 18. A total of 57 nominations have been submitted for this year’s race, which moves to July for the first time in the 21-year history of the event, which is presented by the Indy Star.

 

Heading the list of nominations from the Baffert Stable is Illinois Derby winner Whiskey Ticket. The three-year-old son of Ghostzapper won two of his three career starts before finishing eighth in the $500,000 Ohio Derby June 20. Whiskey Ticket joins Fame and Power and Gimme Da Lute, winner of the Grade III Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita in his last start, as horses nominated to the Indiana Derby by Baffert.

 

Another standout three-year-old nominated to this year’s Indiana Derby is Mr. Z, who is fresh off of a win in the Ohio Derby. The son of Malibu Moon, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, followed the Kentucky Derby trail earlier this year, racing against Triple Crown winner American Pharoah three straight times in the $1 million Arkansas Derby, the $2 million Kentucky Derby and the $1.5 million Preakness before his win in the Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Mr. Z has more than $997,000 in career earnings. He joins Henry Jones and Hillbilly Style from the Lukas Stable on the nomination list for the Indiana Derby.

 

Todd Pletcher leads the trainers with the most horses nominated to the Indiana Derby with nine from his stable on the list. Leading the charge from his barn is Materiality, winner of the Grade I $1 million Florida Derby and sixth in the Kentucky Derby. Other horses nominated by Pletcher include Blofeld, Competitive Edge, Dekalb County, First Spark, Madefromlucky, Stanford, Tommy Macho and Two Weeks Off.

 

In all, 10 of the 57 horses nominated to the Indiana Derby ran in one or more of the historical Triple Crown races this season that saw American Pharoah win the Triple Crown, which had not been accomplished since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978. Among those nominated for the Indiana Derby, 13 of the horses have competed against American Pharoah, showing the depth of talent on the list.

 

The Indiana Derby will head the Saturday, July 18 racing card that includes six stakes totaling more than $1 million. Also included on the Derby Night card is the Grade II $200,000-added Indiana Oaks, which drew 55 nominations. Heading the list is Keen Pauline, winner of the Grade II $250,000 Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico Racecourse, Angela Renee, second place finisher in the Grade I $500,000 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, and Condo Commando, winner of the Grade II $300,000 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct.

 

“The nomination lists for both the Indiana Derby and the Indiana Oaks are very impressive,” said Jon Schuster, vice president and general manager of racing at Indiana Grand. “We are pleased to see so much support for the Derby and the Oaks.  This will be the first year in the history of the Derby it has not been held the first Saturday in October. We knew there was some risk in moving the race to July, but with better weather and a look at the horses on the nomination list, I believe the move has only strengthened this race, which has always received national attention.”

 

The Indiana Grand National Racing Festival gets underway Wednesday, July 15 and leads up to Indiana Derby Night. A total of 12 stakes will be held over a four day period with purses topping $1.4 million. Josh Kaufman, winner of season six on “The Voice” will be the headliner of a free outdoor concert the night before the Derby held trackside.

 

Kaufman will join the members of the 1954 Indiana State Championship Basketball Team from Milan High School, the team that inspired the movie “Hoosiers,” as the honorary chairmen for the Indiana Derby. Dani Mathers, 2015 Playmate of the Year, will also make a special appearance.

 

Racing begins at 6:05 p.m. and the Indiana Derby will be contested as the ninth race on the card with an estimated post time of 9:41 p.m. EST. The Indiana Oaks will be held as race eight with an estimated post time of 9:11 p.m. EST.

 

For more information on Indiana Derby Night packages, call Indiana Grand Racing & Casino at (317) 421-0000 during regular business hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking and general admission are always free and free seating is available trackside on a first come first serve basis.

 

The 13th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse continues through Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. Racing is conducted Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2:05 p.m. with first post Saturdays set at 6:05 p.m.