Mr. Z, Divining Rod Rematch in Indiana Derby
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Fresh off a win in the $500,000 Ohio Derby, Calumet Farm's Mr. Z has been selected as the morning-line favorite for the $500,000-added Indiana Derby (gr. II) July 18 at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.
The 3-year-old son of Malibu Moon is trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who will be saddling his 10th starter in the Indiana Derby. Lukas has two previous wins in the race, scoring with Dubai Dust in 1997 and with Orientate in 2001. He will again bring in Joe Bravo to ride Mr. Z with hopes of reprising their performance in the Ohio Derby. The duo starts from the rail in a field of eight at odds of 2-1.
NOVAK: Mr. Z Has His Day in Ohio Derby
Joining Mr. Z as a top choice in the race is Divining Rod, who begins from post 2 at odds of 5-2 under jockey Alex Cintron. Trained by Arnaud Delacour, Divining Rod was third in his previous start behind Mr. Z in the Ohio Derby and was also a third-place finisher in the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I) behind eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. The Tapit colt has not been worse than third in five starts this year, with his sole 2015 victory recorded in the $250,000 Lexington Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland in April.
Another favorite for the Indiana Derby is Island Town, who will begin from post 6 at odds of 3-1. The Hard Spun gelding has won his past two starts, including the $100,000 Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs last time out. Island Town is trained by Ian Wilkes, who has one previous Indiana Derby winner—Neck 'n Neck, who took the 2012 edition. Julien Leparoux, regular rider aboard Island Town, is named to ride.
"This is a very well rounded bunch," said Kevin Greely, director of racing at Indiana Grand. "They have the right past performances, and quite a few have played in the big leagues, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. I'm very excited about this race. I think it will be a great race to watch."
Deliverance Day will be the local connection represented in the Indiana Derby. Although he is listed as the longest shot on the board at odds of 20-1, the Purim gelding comes into the race off two straight wins at Churchill. Trainer Tim Glyshaw feels the start in the Indiana Derby is a good spot for the colt.
"We claimed him for $30,000 last fall and thought he would be a pretty nice horse for us on the turf," said Glyshaw. "A start on the turf didn't go as well as we thought. But this year, his last two races on the dirt were great starts and that gives us the right to try him in a race like this because he beat a pretty nice field. There is a lot of speed and in all likelihood, it may set up for the horses that come off the pace, which includes our horse."
The Indiana Derby is Saturday's featured race and will be held as the ninth on a 10-race card with an estimated post time of 9:41 p.m. EDT. It is joined by five more stakes, including the $200,000-added Indiana Oaks (gr. II), which will be contested as race eight with an estimated post time of 9:11 p.m. ET.
The 20th running of the Indiana Oaks drew a field of 11 fillies. Likely favorites in the race include Silverpocketsfull from the Wilkes barn and third-place finisher in the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (gr. I) last time out April 4; and Ahh Chocolate from the barn of Neil Howard, a third-place finisher in her last start in the $250,000 Black Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II).
Indiana Derby (gr. II)
Indiana Grand, Saturday, July 18, 2015, Race 9
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $500,000
- 3 yo
- 9:41 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Weight | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr. Z (KY) | Joe Bravo | 124 | D. Wayne Lukas |
| 2 | Divining Rod (KY) | Alex Cintron | 124 | Arnaud Delacour |
| 3 | Tiz Shea D (KY) | Jose Lezcano | 117 | William I. Mott |
| 4 | Alabaster (KY) | Julio E. Felix | 117 | Eoin G. Harty |
| 5 | Bold Conquest (KY) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 117 | Steven M. Asmussen |
| 6 | Island Town (KY) | Julien R. Leparoux | 124 | Ian R. Wilkes |
| 7 | Far Right (KY) | Corey J. Lanerie | 124 | Ron Moquett |
| 8 | Deliverance Day (KY) | Albin Jimenez | 117 | Tim Glyshaw |
Indiana Oaks (gr. II)
Indiana Grand, Saturday, July 18, 2015, Race 8
- 1 1/16m
- Dirt
- $200,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 9:11 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Weight | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanwave (KY) | Shaun Bridgmohan | 119 | Wayne M. Catalano |
| 2 | High Dollar Woman (KY) | Joseph Rocco, Jr. | 115 | Steve Hobby |
| 3 | Affect (KY) | Fernando De La Cruz | 115 | Eoin G. Harty |
| 4 | Sweetgrass (KY) | Chris Landeros | 115 | Ian R. Wilkes |
| 5 | All Day Alice (NY) | Florent Geroux | 115 | Jon M. Cowan |
| 6 | Ahh Chocolate (KY) | Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. | 119 | Neil J. Howard |
| 7 | Pangburn (KY) | Robby Albarado | 119 | Kenneth G. McPeek |
| 8 | Zeven (KY) | Corey J. Lanerie | 115 | Eddie Kenneally |
| 9 | Tiger Ride (KY) | Alex Cintron | 115 | H. Graham Motion |
| 10 | Emmajestic (KY) | Miguel Mena | 115 | Michelle Lovell |
| 11 | Silverpocketsfull (KY) | Julien R. Leparoux | 115 | Ian R. Wilkes |