The IND Derby – Grade III
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $300.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st Wahpekute Sioux Mb Stables Rispoli U

If ever there was a race that went exactly as expected, it was this one. With a front runner and a close Mb didn’t even need the safeguard of the third runner; they just let the race engine do its thing. This one turned some heads when he took the San Felipe and the AR Derby with strong front running displays, but the trainer recognized that the classics can be difficult to win from the front and gave this one a rest in the KYD. He couldn’t stay the trip in the Preakness but came back to his favored distance today and never really looked like losing. The mud probably helped as it is hard to catch a front runner on a wet track, but he was head and shoulders the best today and must be a real chance in the BC Mile.

2nd Silent Murder Mb Stables Elliott S

A front running two-year-old either the new engine turned him into a closer or the trainer did but either way he completed the puzzle just as we thought he would, closing hard to the line but never being close enough to trouble the winner. You would have to hope to see him over a mile and a quarter or more next time and if he can get his timing right, he could end up a late Classic threat.

3rd Royal Valor Nakamura Stables Beschizza A

Got closer to the pace today but to be honest, whether he led, stalked or closed the result would probably have been the same. A good effort, but he still has a length to find at this level.

4th Peace Pipe Arindel Hernandez C J

He had won a grade one in the wet so I was a bit disappointed by his fairly flat effort in this race. He held his position throughout but just could not quicken to win it. He got off the rail in time but found little under the drive.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES