Study Guide: 2024 Indiana Derby

Jul 04, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

A quality field has turned out for Saturday's $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Eight horses have entered the 1 1/16-mile race for three-year-olds. Five are veterans of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, including expected favorite Stronghold, who exits a start in the Run for the Roses itself.

Let's take a horse-by-horse tour through the field:

Woodcourt

Start(s): 12
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Contreras Stable
Breeder: Michelle Lovell
Trainer: Cipriano Contreras
Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing fourth in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $381,286

Sire: Ransom the Moon
Dam: Warrioress
Color: Bay

Woodcourt has won a trio of allowance races and $381,286 during his accomplished career, but he's missed the top two in all five of his stakes starts. He finished 10 3/4 lengths behind Real Men Violin when third in the Illinois Derby most recently and will need a step forward to reverse that outcome.

Stronghold

Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 0

Owner: Eric M. Waller and Sharon Waller
Breeder: Eric Waller and Sharon Waller
Trainer: Philip D'Amato
Jockey: Antonio Fresu

Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos.
Total Earnings: $827,200

Sire: Ghostzapper
Dam: Spectator
Color: Bay

Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Sunland Park Derby (G3) winner Stronghold ran respectably in the Kentucky Derby (G1), finishing seventh after sticking close to a hot early pace. He's a formidable favorite while dropping in class for the Indiana Derby, especially since he owns the two highest Brisnet Speed ratings (99 and 98) in the field.

Real Men Violin

Start(s): 10
Wins: 1
Place: 5
Show: 2

Owner: Tilted Shamrock Stables
Breeder: Newtown Anner Stud
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne.
Total Earnings: $291,350

Sire: Mendelssohn
Dam: Meg Fitz
Color: Chestnut

Real Men Violin hasn't quite lived up to the promise he showed when rallying to finish second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last year. But he's improved in his last couple of runs, finishing second in the Illinois Derby and third in the Texas Derby. He lost the latter race by seven lengths to Indiana Derby rival E J Won the Cup, but the Texas Derby was a reasonably quick race, so a top-four finish isn't out of the question for Real Men Violin this Saturday.

Kitty Hawk

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: BBN Racing
Breeder: TMSI -- Not This Time Mare Syndicate
Trainer: Victoria Oliver
Jockey: Fernando De La Cruz

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing fifth in a Churchill Downs allowance.
Total Earnings: $77,318

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Kombat Kitty
Color: Dark bay/brown

Kitty Hawk prevailed in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last fall, but he's finished fifth in his two starts this year, both times against allowance competition. With a career-best 86 Brisnet Speed rating, Kitty Hawk needs improvement to challenge against tougher foes in the Indiana Derby.

Informed Patriot

Start(s): 9
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 3

Owner: J. Kirk and Judy Robison
Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Whisper Hill Farm
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing fifth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $317,640

Sire: Hard Spun
Dam: Yawkey Way
Color: Dark bay/brown

Informed Patriot earned Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points in a trio of stakes between October and March, including the Arkansas Derby (G1). But he exits a ninth-place finish in the Texas Derby and has yet to crack the 90 Brisnet Speed rating plateau. A top-five finish might be the ceiling for Informed Patriot's potential in the Indiana Derby.

Sir Greylind

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: James Colwell, Ryan Chanley, and Post Time Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Post Time Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Grant Forster
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

Top Speed Rating: (93)
Total Earnings: $92,221

Sire: Speightster
Dam: Awesome Elvera
Color: Bay

Sir Greylind has won two of his three starts against easier competition, most recently dominating a 1 1/16-mile $50,000 starter optional claimer at Churchill Downs by 5 1/4 lengths. That victory yielded a 93 Brisnet Speed rating, so a case can be made for this improving gelding to challenge even while stepping up in class.

E J Won the Cup

Start(s): 10
Wins: 3
Place: 3
Show: 2

Owner: Doug O' Neill
Breeder: Hoolie Racing Stable
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Jockey: Mike Smith

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning the Texas Derby at Lone Star Park.
Total Earnings: $372,940

Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Firsthand Report
Color: Chestnut

Since stretching out beyond sprint distances, E J Won the Cup has triumphed in three of his four starts, including the Texas Derby and Turf Paradise Derby. His lone defeat came when finishing third by 3 1/2 lengths to Stronghold in the Santa Anita Derby. Turning the tables could be tricky, but another top-three finish is absolutely within reach.

Dragoon Guard

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Juddmonte
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (95)
Total Earnings: $158,960

Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Filimbi
Color: Gray/roan

The biggest threat to Stronghold might be Dragoon Guard, whose 2-for-2 tally this year includes a 3 1/4-length win in a one-mile $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs. With Brisnet Speed ratings of 95 and 91 under his belt, Dragoon Guard hasn't run quite as fast as Stronghold so far, but he's bred to relish stretching out over 1 1/16 miles around two turns in the Indiana Derby. Trainer Brad Cox has won this race twice since 2020, so don't be surprised if Dragoon Guard springs a mild upset.