Givemeaminit tackles eight rivals in Indiana Derby

Jul 13, 2018 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

While none in the nine-horse field entered in Saturday night’s $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3) took part in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 5, a number of contestants ran in prep races leading up to the Run for the Roses.

One of those who attempted the Road to the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs was GIVEMEAMINIT. The Dallas Stewart trainee didn’t break his maiden until making his sophomore bow on January 28 at Fair Grounds, but as a juvenile did finish third in the Hopeful Stakes (G1), fifth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). After his maiden score, the Star Guitar colt followed an unplaced effort in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) with a fourth in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Givemeaminit showed up on Kentucky Derby Day but not for the main event. Instead, he ran third in the Pat Day Mile (G3) before posting a rallying sixth most recently in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on the Belmont Stakes (G1) undercard. Still looking for his second career win, the Louisiana-bred bay gets a jockey switch to Marcelino Pedroza on Saturday.

TITLE READY may have stayed on the Derby trail if he had held onto the lead in the Rebel Stakes (G2) in March, but took a detour when finishing fourth that day. He filled the same spot in the Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn Park before a runner-up effort in the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness Stakes Day. The Steve Asmussen charge tried another Derby last out, running fourth while beaten only 1 1/2 lengths in the Ohio Derby (G3). Ricardo Santana Jr. has the call here.

KING ZACHARY showed promise when breaking his maiden by 7 3/4 lengths in March, but was unable to carry that forward for trainer Dale Romans into the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) next out, crossing under the wire a well-beaten sixth. The Curlin chestnut showed up on the first Saturday in May under the Twin Spires and captured an allowance/optional claimer by a half-length. He extended his winning margin to 4 3/4 lengths last out on June 16 at Churchill in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) and keeps jockey Robby Albarado aboard in this spot.

DARK VADER ran third in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park in February and trainer Peter Eurton decided to send the Tale of Ekati colt to the Sunland Derby (G3) for his next start. He could only manage fifth that day and returned to California to score a three-quarter length victory against allowance/optional claiming rivals in early May. The dark bay colt showed up on the Belmont Stakes undercard in the Easy Goer Stakes and just missed when third by a neck. He gets Corey Nakatani, aboard for his last triumph, back in the saddle.

FUNNY DUCK was never on the Kentucky Derby trail, spending all but one of his juvenile races on turf and continued that trend into his sophomore campaign. However, the Rusty Arnold pupil did show up on Kentucky Derby Day and provided a 39-1 upset in the Pat Day Mile over the main track under returning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. He ran fourth behind King Zachary last out in the Matt Winn and will try to rebound while staying on the dirt.

Neither THE MONEY DANCE nor AXELROD took part in the Road to the Kentucky Derby but both show up here in an attempt to secure a first stakes victory. BLAME THE RIDER found his niche on turf after a well-beaten fifth in the Robert B. Lewis. He broke his maiden two races later then took the Singletary Stakes and finished second in the Rainbow Stakes well. TRIGGER WARNING was never a factor against stakes rivals earlier this season, but seems to have found his stride after switching to new trainer Mike Rone. The Candy Ride gelding has since triumphed in the Tom Ridge Stakes and just missed by a length in the Ohio Derby (G3).

One race before the Indiana Derby, eight sophomore fillies will take to the track in the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3). Included in the group is KELLY’S HUMOR, who crossed under the Kentucky Oaks (G1) wire in eighth on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

The Brad Cox charge finished second in the Pocahontas Stakes (G2) as a juvenile and in the Beaumont Stakes (G2) as a sophomore to earn her shot at Oaks glory, but was unable to factor that day. The Midnight Lute filly enters this spot off a runner-up effort against allowance/optional claiming rivals on June 1 under the Twin Spires. Florent Geroux has the call.

In with a chance Saturday is TALK VEUVE TO ME, who carries a pair of placings in the Eight Belles Stakes (G2) and Acorn Stakes (G1) into the Indiana Oaks under new rider Julien Leparoux.