Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Noble Indy

Mar 24, 2018 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Road to the Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Noble Indy

Noble Indy began his racing career in December, but he has already left his mark on this Kentucky Derby prep season. WinStar Farm homebred comes off his biggest triumph to date when bagging the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds in just his fourth lifetime start.  

Todd Pletcher trainee now sits atop the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 110 points and has earned a spot in the starting gate on May 5.

Bred in the Bluegrass State, Noble Indy sent notice from his debut at Gulfstream Park when rolling home a facile, 8 ¾-length winner. A son of 2012 Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy, the three-year-old colt followed his debut win with a measured allowance score over the highly touted Mississippi on January 11, giving his connections the green light to try stakes foes.

Colt was then sent to Fair Grounds to contest the Risen Star (G2) and finished a respectable third against a solid and more seasoned field, proving the he belonged with the better in his division.

In the Louisiana Derby, the long-striding bay raced with blinkers for the first time and the equipment change paid off. Under the guidance of the exquisite John Velazquez, Noble Indy took the lead turning for home and came back in game fashion after being passed by two of his foes inside the final furlong. He posted a neck victory as the 7-2 lukewarm favorite.

Noble Indy has been forwardly placed in every one of his races so far, and he was a bit head-strong at Fair Grounds with the blinkers on. But for a lightly raced horse to go swiftly early, get passed late and then battle back to win, speaks volumes about his courage.

The ability of Noble Indy to travel 1 ¼ miles against the best three-year-olds in the country is a major question mark, though. His sire has yet to make a mark on the Classic races and he currently stands in South Korea. The jury is still out on how far the progeny of Take Charge Indy want to run.

The dam of Noble Indy, Noble Maz, was purely a sprinter in her career and is by speed influence Storm Boot, who was also a one-turn specialist that ventured beyond six furlongs just once in his lifetime.

Noble Indy is not among the upper echelon Kentucky Derby prospects at this stage of his development. But a colt with his speed and heart, combined with the fact that he is under the tutelage of two-time Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, makes Noble Indy one to keep in the Kentucky Derby conversation for sure.