Noble Indy gives Pletcher fourth TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby win

Mar 24, 2018 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

One week after teaming up to win the Rebel (G2) with Magnum Moon, trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez qualified another colt for the Kentucky Derby (G1), Noble Indy, in Saturday's $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Owned in partnership by Mike Repole and breeder WinStar Farm, Noble Indy was adding blinkers following a third-place finish behind Bravazo and Snapper Sinclair in last month's Risen Star (G2) over the Fair Grounds strip. He beat both decisively in the Louisiana Derby, but it was not an easy win.

Shadowing the longshot maiden Marmello through fractions of :22.97 and :46.61, Noble Indy seized control from that one entering the far turn and hit three-quarters on top in 1:11.47.

'He's still green, that's why we put the blinkers on him,' Velazquez said. 'I think he responded to them, though the pace was much faster than anticipated today. He got a little keen with me. Finally, by the half-mile pole, I decided not to fight him anymore.'

In a race that set-up for closers, Noble Indy dug deep along the inside in the stretch, re-rallied after being momentarily passed by Lone Sailor, and also fended off a late surge from My Boy Jack, who was out in the middle of the track following a sweeping move on the final turn.

The final margin over Lone Sailor was a neck for Noble Indy, who completed nine furlongs on a fast track in 1:50.28. He paid $7.40 as a 5-2 chance. Lone Sailor was a half-length ahead of My Boy Jack, with Givemeaminit fourth. The order of finish was rounded out by Snapper Sinclair, Hyndford, Retirement Fund, Bravazo, Dark Templar, and Marmello.

Noble Indy, Pletcher's fourth winner in the Louisiana Derby, earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, while Lone Sailor virtually assured himself a berth with 40 points for second, increasing his total to 42. Southwest (G3) winner My Boy Jack earned an additional 20 points to increase his total to 32, leaving him as a potential 'bubble' horse. Givemeaminit earned 10 points.

Noble Indy debuted on December 3 at Gulfstream Park, winning a seven-furlong maiden by 8 3/4 lengths, then edged Mississippi by three-quarters of a length in a 1 1/16-mile allowance over the same track January 11. In the February 17 Risen Star, Noble Indy finished two lengths behind Bravazo in a race where there was a little change in position from the top three throughout the 1 1/16-mile test.

'He won his first two starts easily, then came here and got a real education,' said Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm. He was off the pace a little bit, got some dirt in his face. He was a real brat in the paddock that day, but grew up today. I think the experience of coming over here twice really helped him.'

Noble Indy, who's earned $691,600, is by Take Charge Indy and out of the multiple stakes winner Noble Maz, by Storm Boot.

(Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography)