A field of 10 has been drawn for the 26th running of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby Wednesday, July 8 at Indiana Grand. The race is part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series with the top four finishers earning points toward the 2020 Kentucky Derby set for Saturday, Sept. 5. The Indiana Derby is carded as the 11th on the 12-race card with an estimated post time of 7:45 p.m. First post for the afternoon card is 2:20 p.m.
Leading the list of entrants for Indiana's richest horse race is Major Fed from the Greg Foley barn. The son of Ghostzapper finished second earlier this season in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fairgrounds and returned in the next start for a fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. He competed in the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs in late May and will start from post eight with James Graham aboard.
Joining Major Fed as a contender for the Indiana Derby title is Winning Impression from the Dallas Stewart Stable. The grey Paynter gelding has not raced since early May, finishing fourth in his last start in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Julien Leparoux gets the call aboard Winning Impression from post nine.
Leading into the Indiana Derby is the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks. Heading the field is Graded Stakes winner Shedaresthedevil from the Brad Cox Stable. The Daredevil filly was a winner in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March and came back for a third place finish in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes in early May. Her most recent start was a win against allowance company at Churchill Downs in early June. Shesarethedevil will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post six in the 10-horse lineup.
The Indiana Derby Day card features six stakes total with purses for the day just under the $1 million mark. The program begins at 2:20 p.m. with the 12th running of the $75,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes. Other stakes on the card include the $75,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Fillies Stakes, the $75,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff (Listed), and the $75,000 Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial (Listed). A special $100,000-guaranteed Pick 5 pool will be offered on the last five races of the program, beginning with the Indiana General Assembly Distaff in Race 8.
Indiana Grand recently received permission to allow spectators during live racing. The facility will operate at reduced capacity, in accordance with State of Indiana and the Indiana Horse Racing Commission guidelines. All guests will be strongly encouraged to wear face masks in all locations, but will be required to wear face masks while indoors except while consuming food or beverages. Doors will open at Noon on Indiana Derby Day.
Live racing continues through Wednesday, Nov. 18 with action held Monday through Thursday beginning at 2:20 p.m. Four Saturday programs are slated for all-Quarter Horse days set for July 4, Aug. 8, Oct. 23 and Oct. 24.
The post Major Fed Tops Field Of 10 Seeking Derby Points In Wednesday’s Indiana Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
