Axelrod Surges Late to Take Indiana Derby

A change in tactics led to a change in fortunes for Slam Dunk Racing's Axelrod in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3) July 14.

As others rushed for the early lead in the 1 1/16-mile test at Indiana Grand, jockey Florent Geroux—in his first start aboard the Warrior's Reward  colt—took back, immediately got to the rail, and raced second to last in the nine-horse field as they entered the first turn.

Trigger Warning set the pace under pressure from Blame the Rider—with fractions of :23.65, :47.86, and 1:11.52 through six furlongs—then kicked away in the stretch to open a 2 1/2-length lead with a furlong to run.

Angled out by Geroux in the stretch, Axelrod appeared to be in a battle for the minors with favored King Zachary, but he found another gear in the final sixteenth and just got up to win by a head over Trigger Warning in 1:43.00.

"My horse broke sharp, but I was surprised there was a lot of speed and everybody went," Geroux said of the Michael McCarthy trainee. "I was like ... 'Let's go to the fence and try (to get) as much run as we can.' From there, he was off the bridle during the whole race, and when horses in front started coming back to him, his heart started getting bigger and bigger.

"By the quarter pole, I didn't know if I was going to get the horse on the lead, but the final jump—he just kept on going."

Although Axelrod has been on or near the lead in every race other than his debut on grass in July 2017—including a second-place finish in the Affirmed Stakes (G3) June 10 at Santa Anita Park—McCarthy wasn't shocked by the colt's early positioning in the Indiana Derby.

"When I saw they were going quick up front tonight, I was happy to save ground on the fence," McCarthy said. "Then at the three-eighths pole, it didn't look like anyone was going anywhere. ... In the Affirmed, the pace was a little on the soft side, so he was able to lay a little closer.

"I wasn't surprised he was that far back, but the way he got to those horses from the three-eighths pole to the wire surprised me."

Trigger Warning finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of Title Ready for second. They were followed by last-out Matt Winn Stakes (G3) winner King Zachary, Dark Vader, Funny Duck, The Money Dance, Givemeaminit, and Blame the Rider.

The Indiana Derby was Axelrod's first graded stakes victory and first win of 2018 in his first start outside of California, where McCarthy is based. Prior to the Affirmed, he finished third and fourth—beaten a head and half-length, respectively—in a pair of sprints over the Santa Anita hillside turf course. The $25,000 purchase out of the 2016 Ocala Breeders' Sales Winter Mixed Sale broke his maiden in for a $50,000 claiming tag in August at Del Mar and won a starter allowance optional claimer to close his juvenile season at Santa Anita in October.

He got an extended break after that, returned to racing in April, and McCarthy said the difference has been noticeable in 2018.

"I couldn't be happier for the horse," the trainer said. "He's certainly turned the corner over the last 90 days. We gave him a little break over the winter, and he's paid us back in spades."

Bred in Florida by Hidden Point Farm, out of the Elusive Quality mare Volatile Vickie, Axelrod has a 3-1-1 record from eight starts and $360,925 in earnings.