The 8th Running of The IND Derby-G3
July 7, 2021 18:25
IND Race #2 $300.000
3YO 120 Lbs 11/16 Dirt
Stakes/Track Record-1:41.02 (Proud Crown-2021)
Proud Crown won his fourth graded race in his last five outings, and second consecutive G3, when he completed the 8.5 furlong dirt contest for 3YOs in a stakes and track record time of 1:41.02 to take home the $300.000 G3 IND Derby. Trainer Mb Stables and jockey E. Jaramillo both claimed the G3 centerpiece of the IND meet for the first time, but Maxmillion Farm’s Penalty Shot made the prolific duo work for it.
Penalty Shot almost beat the starter at the break and found himself immediately in front and on the rail from his stall four starting position. Proud Crown, always his closest competitor and nearest the rail, was in a line of three with Nark and Figured The Storm while Strider and Greatness G trailed the field. Through an opening quarter in :24.80 and half in :47.45, Penalty Shot held a one-length advantage over the eventual winner. Stark was a length off of that runner while Figured The Storm took back and joined Strider; that duo a little more than a length in front of the trailer, Greatness G.
As the horses moved around the far turn, Proud Crown came off the rail and began to amp up the pressure on Penalty Shot. At the top of the lane, it was clear that the race for the wire would be a two-horse contest; the rest would have to settle for the minors in this one. At the 1/8 pole, Proud Crown drew even with Penalty Shot while the latter drifted out a bit to get a good look at his rival. Behind them, Strider had moved to gain the upper-hand in the race for the show while Figured The Storm and Nark battled ahead of Greatness G. Penalty Shot was game; however, Proud Crown made the pass with 100 yards to go and held sway with his advantage to hit the wire a half length to the good. Penalty Shot was unchallenged for the place as he hit the wire nearly three-lengths in front of Strider, who held off Figured The Storm for the show.
With the win, the gelded son of Proud Gold improved his record to 11-6-2-0 $662.000 and he grabbed four BC points. Penalty Shot snagged two BC points for his efforts and Strider took home a single BC point for his show finish. It would come as no surprise were the top two to meet up elsewhere down the line and, if this race was any indication, those should be must-see events.
Congratulations to Mb Stables and Proud Crown, the winners of the 2021 G3 IND Derby!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
