Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Ete Indien
Mar 02, 2020
Linda Shanahan, Sanford Bacon, Dream With Me Stable, Horse France America, DP Racing, and Patrick Biancone Racing’s Ete Indien sped to the front early and never looked back en route to an 8 1/2-length score in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The sophomore endured 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.02 under Florent Geroux and earned 50 points on the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby for his efforts.
Ete Indien began his career on September 13 in a 5-furlong turf test at Gulfstream, closing stoutly from well off the early tempo to win on debut. The colt finished eighth on the grass in the subsequent Bourbon (G3) at Keeneland prior to being transferred to the dirt for his juvenile finale.
In his initial attempt on the main strip, Ete Indien took command from the break and strolled home a facile victor over first-level allowance foes. He recently finished a clear second to Tiz the Law in the Holy Bull (G3), which preceded his Fountain of Youth tour-de-force.
The winner was bred in the Bluegrass State by Robert Tillyer and Eric Buckley, and he was offered at public auction on a trio of occasions. The son of Summer Front was an $85,000 RNA as a weanling at 2017 Keeneland November, prior to fetching a bid of $80,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He came to his owners after a bid of $269,544 was secured at the 2019 Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale in Deauville, France.
Ete Indien is the first stakes winner out of the Mizzen Mast mare East India. He is from the same female line as champion Raven’s Pass, who was victorious in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita.
The dark bay colt has blossomed since changing surfaces as he has posted a trio of strong Brisnet speed figures (103, 104, 103) on the dirt. The Biancone trainee has an abundance of early foot and has not shown distance limitations to this stage of his development. Ete Indien possesses all the tools to be a prime contender for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
His connections have indicated that a start in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on March 28 will be next for the budding star.
(AC Photography: Ryan Thompson)
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