Indiana Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The lucrative $500,000 Indiana Derby (G2) drew a field of 12, with half
cross-entered to the Ohio Derby (G2), and we think the main contenders all benefited from avoiding the widest draws.

WIN WILLY (Monarchos) has to be considered the one to beat in here in our
opinion, as the late-running sophomore has never run a bad one on the dirt.
Trained by McLean Robertson, the talented gray upset the Rebel S. (G2) in the
spring and followed with a solid fourth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G2).
The Kentucky-bred missed some time due to injury following his efforts in
Arkansas, and he reappeared last month with a fine third in an allowance sprint
which was used to ready for this. We expect him to mow them down late.

Bob Baffert’s MISREMEMBERED (Candy Ride [Arg]) was a most impressive hero of
the Swaps S. (G2) two back when proving to be push-button for jockey Victor
Espinoza, but faded late in the competitive Pacific Classic (G1) while
disputing a sharp early pace. The talented three-year-old has never run on the
dirt, but if he takes to it, he’ll be a major treat. Espinoza made the trek
along with the colt.

FLAT BOLD (Flatter) is an intriguing runner in this field who could rebound
in a big way for new conditioner Tom Albertrani. A superb allowance winner at
Belmont in July, the late developing sophomore ran a very good fourth in the
subsequent Jim Dandy S. (G2) before finding his foes in the King’s Bishop S.
(G1) a bit too fast. Now back in a route, the dark bay is bred to stay and his
two trips beyond one mile impressed us the most, so he could run huge with the
added ground in here. Corey Lanerie will be up.

SUMO (Fusaichi Pegasus) romped by five lengths in the Pleasant Colony S. in
his latest test and is sure to take a lot of money for trainer Graham Motion.
The Grade 3-placed colt has no issues with distance but has lacked consistency
with stakes foes. His best puts him in the top three beneath Calvin Borel.

The fleet DESPITE THE ODDS (Speightstown) finished a decent fourth versus
better in the King’s Bishop in his last but must prove he can handle a
route of ground against top foes in this spot. Conditioned by Michael Trombetta,
the gray colt will add blinkers for this and should be forwardly placed
throughout, so if he can establish a clear lead or sit off of a slow pace, he
might get stubborn late. Jose Lezcano has the assignment.

Prairie Meadows Derby star KARAMA (Macho Uno) has won four of five and rates
a chance against these with another step forward. The gelded bay has been
winning by fairly comfortable margins as of late and is training well leading up
to this for conditioner Kellyn Gorder. GIANT OAK (Giant’s Causeway) has flashed brilliance as often as he’s run well
short of his odds for Chris Block, so we will only use the Illinois Derby (G2)
runner-up on the bottom rungs of our exotics.

FUNDY (Northern Afleet) has won two in succession but will need big
improvement to be in the say in the latter stages. HOOPOE (Birdstone) looks like
an interesting prospect that might need more time to develop for Nick Zito. PETCH (Petionville) got thrashed by a questionable allowance group most
recently and seems hopeless on this occasion. Local hope HOOSIER KINGDOM
(Repent) is winless in five tries over this oval. WESLINN (Noactor) has won
three of his last four but has never tried dirt.

Karama, Giant Oak, Petch, Hoopoe, Weslinn and Fundy are all cross-entered to
the Ohio Derby.