Actuator Survives Inquiry to Capture Indiana Derby

Bought at auction for a mere $2,200, Actuator  earned his initial purchase price nearly 100 times, surviving an inquiry to land the $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) July 9 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Campaigned by friends Gavin O'Connor, Rick Howard, and Joe Ragsdale of Rags Racing Stable, the bargain buy turned in two third-place finishes on the turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis as a 2-year-old. Given a freshening and sent to the barn of trainer Michael McCarthy for his 3-year-old campaign, the colt then responded with a runaway victory in a June 8 seven-furlong maiden special weight contest at Churchill Downs. The scintillating performance caught the attention of Black Type Thoroughbreds' Jake Ballis, and within 36 hours Black Type Thoroughbreds had purchased a 75% interest in the 3-year-old son of Bodemeister  .

READ: Actuator Delivering Above Initial Sale Price

"It's a whirlwind of emotions," O'Connor said. "To win today is unbelievable. The (initial) price doesn't reflect the quality of the Thoroughbred that he is. He's regally bred. He had every chance. It's incredible. Absolutely incredible."

After a chaotic start, in which Best Actor  stumbled out of the gate and Actuator to his outside lugged in, causing Best Actor to collide with 9-5 favorite Rattle N Roll , the field managed to straighten out heading into the first turn with Trademark  showing the way. Rattle N Roll, whose rider Brian Hernandez Jr. lost his irons when his mount careened to his knees, trailed by more than a dozen lengths behind a first quarter in :24.04 and half-mile in :48.66.

Actuator, under James Graham, remained in a perfect stalking position three-wide down the backstretch and once cued around the bend quickened instantly to draw even with the leaders into the stretch run. Surging clear at the eighth pole, he was then challenged by a late-rallying Best Actor, who stayed on his left lead down the lane.

A half-length safe of Best Actor at the finish, Actuator ($8.40) raced the 1 1/16 miles on a track rated as good in 1:44.48. Best Actor was 2 1/2 lengths ahead of King Ottoman  in third.

New Year's Fever  and Un Ojo  were scratched.

The connections of Actuator were more worried than his rider was when the inquiry sign flashed after the race. The stewards wanted to review the start, and Geroux claimed foul for interference in the stretch.

"He did break in a little bit, but his horse (Florent Geroux on Best Actor) didn't break (perfectly) either," Graham said. "We kind of made contact. But that's the first jump. I grabbed him immediately and (Geroux) actually came and leaned on me the last sixteenth. "

"When I saw Cox's horse (Best Actor) come up, yeah, I got a little worried," Ballis said. "But Actuator kicked on. I thought he had a lot more in the tank. I think the sky's the limit for this horse. We're coming into the second half of the 3-year-old year with fresh legs."

Compromised by the rough break and slow fractions, Rattle N Roll, returning from a week's rest after capturing the American Derby at Churchill Downs, finished seventh in the eight-horse field.

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Actuator is the second foal produced from the winning Indian Charlie mare Indian Rocket , a half sister to 2010 Spinaway Stakes (G1) victress and 2010 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up R Heat Lightning . Actuator is Indian Rocket's last reported foal. He was consigned by James Keogh as a short weanling at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale when Dermot Littlefield signed for his purchase.