Mr. Money Looks to Extend Streak in Indiana Derby
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Photo: Coady Photography
Mr. Money wins the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs
After two open-length victories at Churchill Downs, Allied Racing Stable's Mr. Money is heading to Indiana Grand Racing & Casino July 13, where he'll look to make it three in a row in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3).
The Goldencents colt will face 10 others in Indiana Grand's 1 1/16-mile feature for 3-year-olds. His 6 1/2-length romp in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) was run at the same distance, which followed a 5 1/4-length victory in the May 4 Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG and E and KU (G3).
Though Mr. Money will break from the outside, trainer Bret Calhoun believes the colt's speed will carry him. He also noted while there is pressure heading into Saturday, connections are lucky to be in the position.
"We're having a lot of fun with him, and he's gotten very consistent," Calhoun said. "He turned into the horse we thought he was this past winter when we were trying to point him towards the Derby, so we're hoping he continues to keep moving forward and eventually maybe take on the best of the 3-year-old division."
Last fall, Mr. Money was fourth in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) before contesting stakes on the Kentucky Derby trail at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, where he missed a prep due to a brief illness and was cast in his stall before another one.
Back on track, connections considered sending Mr. Money to Monmouth Park for the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) July 20 but ultimately decided to stick with the Indiana Derby—only a two-hour van ride from Churchill Downs—as opposed to a flight or a 12- to 15-hour van ride.
Disqualified Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Maximum Security and the colt that beat him in the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes, King for a Day, are both pointing to the Haskell. Monmouth is Maximum Security's home track, and King for a Day is based one state away at Saratoga Race Course.
"I thought that gave them the advantage, and they're very high-caliber horses," Calhoun said. "I didn't really feel like giving them any advantages at this point in time. That's why we stayed home."
If Mr. Money impresses connections again Saturday, a race like the Aug. 24 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga could be a "big possibility," Calhoun said.
"His confidence is at an all-time high right now, and part of that's because we placed him in better spots," the trainer explained. "He's run out of his own stall the last two times, and we've kept him fresh and we've kept him in places he could win. We're hoping to continue that, and then when it's time to face the grade 1 horses, we're hoping he's up to it."
Runnymede Racing's Alwaysmining will attempt to rebuild his winning streak in the Indiana Derby. The Stay Thirsty gelding won six consecutive races in Maryland—including five stakes—before running 11th in the Preakness Stakes (G1). He last ran in the June 8 Easy Goer Stakes at Belmont Park, where he crossed the wire fourth and was placed third.
The Kelly Rubley trainee was pinched late in the stretch, resulting in a stewards' inquiry and claim of foul from jockey Javier Castellano against Rajiv Maragh aboard Still Dreaming, who was second across the line but was placed fourth.
Willis Horton Racing's homebred Long Range Toddy is searching for his first win since the March 16 Rebel Stakes (G2). Trained by Steve Asmussen, Long Range Toddy was off the board in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby, placed 16th in the latter after being bothered in the incident for which stewards placed Maximum Security 17th.
The Take Charge Indy colt last ran third, beaten 9 3/4 lengths, in the June 22 Ohio Derby (G3).
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Wachtel Stable, and Gary Barber's Gray Magician, beaten in the UAE Derby Sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) by three-quarters of a length, is entered for his first start since finishing 19th in the Kentucky Derby.
Indiana Grand, Saturday, July 13, 2019, Race 9Entries: Indiana Derby (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Roiland (KY)
Shaun Bridgmohan
122
Thomas M. Amoss
12/1
2
2Hero Tiger (KY)
Ezequiel Lara
118
Gennadi Dorochenko
30/1
3
3Gray Magician (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
118
Peter Miller
8/1
4
4Market Garden (KY)
Santo Sanjur
118
Merrill C. Roberts
30/1
5
5Frolic More (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
122
Dallas Stewart
15/1
6
6Alwaysmining (MD)
Julian Pimentel
124
Kelly Rubley
8/1
7
7Eskenforit (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
118
Steve Margolis
20/1
8
8Chess Chief (VA)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
118
Dallas Stewart
12/1
9
9Long Range Toddy (KY)
Jon Kenton Court
124
Steven M. Asmussen
12/1
10
10Math Wizard (KY)
Edgard J. Zayas
118
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
9/2
11
11Mr. Money (KY)
Gabriel Saez
124
W. Bret Calhoun
6/5
