Noble Indy Arrives at Old Friends for Retirement

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is happy to announce that, through a group effort, Noble Indy  arrived at the farm Dec. 7 for his retirement.

The 8-year old bay gelding, who ran in the 2018 Kentucky Derby (G1), was repatriated from Puerto Rico thanks to the efforts of Fred Hart, who became a big fan of Noble Indy due to his ownership of the horse's dam, Noble Maz; Kelley Stobie, owner of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, which has assisted in helping many Thoroughbreds in Puerto Rico; and Mike Repole, Noble Indy's former owner who paid to transport the horse home to the United States and to Old Friends.

Bred by WinStar Farm, Noble Indy, by Take Charge Indy  —Noble Maz , by Storm Boot, was foaled in Kentucky March 31, 2015.

Originally trained by Todd Pletcher for owner WinStar Farm, Noble Indy began his racing career in 2017 as a 2-year-old and won his first start in a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 3. He came back in 2018 as a 3-year-old and won his first start of the year in an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park.

Then, following a third in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, he scored his first graded stakes victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds. That win punched his ticked into the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, where he finished 17th.

The once-promising Thoroughbred could never recapture his pre-Derby form and began to drop down the racing ranks. In 2019 as a 4-year-old, he only won once. It came in his seventh start in an allowance optional claiming race at Belmont Park. At the time, Pletcher was still his trainer, and Repole was the horse's only owner.

In 2020, as a 5-year-old, he opened the year with a win in an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park, his only win of the year. Then, as a 6-year-old in 2021, he won a claiming race at Gulfstream Park and was claimed by trainer Joseph Saffie Jr. and owner Ken Copenhaver for $35,000.

Trainer Gustavo Delgado later claimed him, running him in Florida, and Noble Indy ultimately completed his career in Puerto Rico, competing for Skull Stable and Giovanni Merced. He retires with a record of 6-5-5 from 38 starts with earnings of $896,247.

"We are all very excited that Noble Indy will spend the rest of his life at Old Friends in Kentucky," Repole said. "This was an amazing team effort by so many to bring Noble Indy back from Puerto Rico and to give him the great retirement that he deserves."

Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, added, "Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to allow us to enjoy Noble Indy's retirement. His story will make him a magnet for racing fans. Come visit."