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Wilburn Finds Opening, Wins Indiana Derby

Stonestreet Stables' Wilburn won his first graded stakes under a smart ride by Julien Leparoux in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino Oct. 1.

Shackleford Hopes for Rebound in Indy Derby

Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford will seek to get back in the winner's circle Oct. 1 in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II), his final race before an expected start in the Breeders' Cup.

Hoosier Park Increases Most Purses

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, citing an increase in pari-mutuel handle, raised most purses effective Sept. 27.

HRTV to Air U.S. Stakes, Arc de Triomphe

HRTV will provide coverage of the U.S. stakes extravaganza on tap for Oct. 1, a major day of racing leading up to the Breeders' Cup World Championships, and the Oct. 2 Qatar Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I).

Trail Talk: October 4, 2010

Commentary on Blind Luck, Zenyatta, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Indiana Derby and Europe. Presented by Taylor Made Stallions.

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Lookin At Lucky Warms Up In Indiana Derby

Lookin At Lucky, buried near the back of the pack on a sloppy track, rallied wide for jockey Martin Garcia to score a popular victory by 1 1/4 lengths in the $510,900 Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park Oct. 2.

Lookin At Lucky Returns in Indiana Derby

On paper, Lookin At Lucky should have little problem winning the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II) Oct. 2 at Hoosier Park, but it will be his first race since recovering from a illness suffered after he won the Aug. 1 Haskell.

Lookin At Lucky Turns in Bullet Work

Lookin At Lucky worked six furlongs in 1:11 1/5 at Hollywood for the Indiana Derby

Lookin At Lucky Targeting Indiana Derby

Lookin At Lucky will run in the Oct. 2 Indiana Derby if he works well next week

More Money, Stakes as Hoosier Park Opens

An expanded stakes schedule and an increase in overnight purses are part of the Hoosier Park Racing & Casino Thoroughbred meet that begins July 31.

Hoosier Park Approved for 63 Race Dates

Hoosier Park Racing and Casino recently received approval from the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for dates and post times in 2010.

Misremembered Ships in to Score Indiana Derby

Misremembered made his first start outside of California a memorable one, as he took over in the stretch and held on for a half-length victory in the $512,600 Indiana Derby (gr. II) Oct. 3 at Hoosier Park.

THS: The Indiana Derby (Video)

Tom, Evan, and Tim Holland of brisnet preview the Indiana Derby (gr. II) and the Ohio Derby (gr.II).

Misremembered to Try Dirt in Indiana Derby

Grade II winner Misremembered makes his first start on a dirt surface for trainer Bob Baffert when he faces a full field of 3-year-olds in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino Oct. 3.

Tin Cup Chalice Beats Pyro in Indy Derby

Remarkable gelding Tin Cup Chalice earned his first victory outside of New York Oct. 4 at Hoosier Park, as he sprinted to an early lead and held off Pyro and Acai in deep stretch to win the $514,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II) by a length.

Pyro Draws Outside for Indiana Derby

While unable to deliver in his last two tries as the favorite, Pyro is sure to once again be the horse to beat when he goes to the post in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park Oct. 4.

Hoosier Park Begins a Season of Change

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino kicks off a 14th season of Thoroughbred racing Aug. 29, and the 63-day meet will be one of change.

Racetrack Slots Era Begins in Indiana

The slots era for Indiana horse racing officially began June 2 when Hoosier Park Racing & Casino opened its doors to the public.

Brass Hat a Rarity in Racing

In a day and age when retiring graded stakes winners as 3-and 4-year-olds is the now the norm, the Thoroughbred racing industry is in desperate need of older superstars. Gutsy horses that fans can get attached to and follow for the better part of a decade.

Zanjero Zaps Rivals in Easy Indiana Derby Score

With Curlin around, Zanjero will never be the star of Steve Asmussen's highly successful stable, but the Winchell Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old colt has enjoyed a tremendously productive sophomore season. He punctuated his year by exceeding the $1 million mark in earnings with a convincing victory in the $510,600 Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park on the night of Oct. 6.

Medici Code Seeks Third Graded Victory in Indiana Derby

Nine 3-year-olds will go to postward in the 13th running of the $500,000-added Indiana Derby (gr. II). Scheduled as the ninth race on the 12-race card Oct. 6, the estimated post time for the Derby is 9:50 p.m. EDT.

Star Dabbler's Connections Drop Indiana Derby Protest

A protest filed by the connections of Star Dabbler involving the finish of the $513,200 Indiana Derby (gr. II) has been withdrawn.

Bright One Rebounds, Sets Sights for Clark

Bright One, one of the more exciting 3-year-olds based at Churchill Downs this year, rebounded from an uncharacteristic performance in the Indiana Derby (gr. II) with an authoritative victory in a money allowance event Nov. 2 at his home track.

Decision on Indiana Derby Protest Expected Soon

A decision could be made the week of Oct. 29 regarding the protest of a dead-heat decision in the $513,200 Indiana Derby (gr. II) held Oct. 7 at Hoosier Park. The protest was filed by owner Barry Schwartz after his colt, Star Dabbler, was placed first in a dead heat with Cielo Gold in the 1 1/16-mile contest.

Protest Filed Over Finish of Indiana Derby

The connections of Star Dabbler have filed a protest with the Indiana Horse Racing Commission centering around the 3-year-old colt's dead-heat victory in the $513,200 Indiana Derby (gr. II) Oct. 7. Owner Barry Schwartz and trainer Michael Hushion, who feel their entry hit the wire first, faxed the protest to the IHRC Oct. 9.

Bright One Seems OK; Classic Remains Option

Despite a seventh-place effort in the $513,200 Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park Oct. 7, the connections of West Virginia Derby (gr. III) winner Bright One have not ruled out the $4-million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I) as the next stop for their colt.

Star Dabbler, Cielo Gold Finish in Dead Heat

Star Dabbler and Cielo Gold could not be separated at the wire, finishing in a dead heat for victory in the $513,200 Indiana Derby (gr. II) before a crowd of 5,134 at Hoosier Park Saturday night.

Bright One Hopes to Continue Roll in Indiana Derby

West Virginia Derby (gr. III) winner Bright One has been tabbed the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday night's grade II, $500,000 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park. The track's signature Thoroughbred event, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, has attracted a full field of 12.

Top 3-Year-Olds Nominated to Hoosier Park Stakes

The $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II), Hoosier Park's signature event, has attracted 34 nominations, including West Virginia Derby (gr. III) winner Bright One, millionaire and multiple graded-stakes winner Brother Derek, and Kent Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Brilliant.

Indiana Derby Next Challenge for Bright One

Bright One, who has won three of four career starts by a total of 22 1/2 lengths, remains on schedule for the Oct. 7 Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park, trainer Dale Romans said.

Don't Get Mad Storms to Indiana Derby Win

B. Wayne Hughes' Don't Get Mad raced off the early pace and stormed home in the stretch to capture the $511,300 Indiana Derby (gr. II) by three lengths Saturday night at Hoosier Park.

Scrappy T Heads Field for Indiana Derby

Scrappy T will be joined by eight other 3-year-olds in a quest to become the winner of the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II) Saturday at Hoosier Park.

Plans for Declan's Moon 'On Hold'; Don't Get Mad to Indiana Derby

Jay Em Ess Stable's undefeated champion Declan's Moon will miss his scheduled start in the Oct. 14 Perryville Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland after coming up slightly body sore following a pair of workouts late last month, trainer Ron Ellis said.

Brass Hat Passes All to Take Rich Indiana Derby

Brass Hat and rider Willie Martinez came from the back of the field to surge past Suave and Hasslefree on his way to capturing the $511,300 Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park Saturday night.

Sir Shackleton Tops Indiana Derby Field

Nick Zito-trained Sir Shackleton has been tabbed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $500,000-added Indiana Derby (gr. II) Saturday at Hoosier Park. The Miswaki colt will be joined by eight other 3-year-olds in the 1 1/16-mile event.

Love Of Money Tops Indiana Derby Nominees

The top three finishers of the recent Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) – Jay em Ess Stable's Love Of Money, Pollard's Vision and Swingforthefences – are among 32 top 3-year-olds nominated to the $500,000-added Indiana Derby (gr. II) at Hoosier Park.

Hoosier Kicks Off 10th Season With Mixed Bag

Hoosier Park kicked off its 10th Thoroughbred meet over the Labor Day weekend with strong overall attendance but soft handle figures.

Hoosier Park Celebrates 10th Season of Racing

Hoosier Park will celebrate 10 years of racing when it opens the evening of Sept. 2 for live Thoroughbred racing.

De Kock Hopes to Duplicate Success; Godolphin Sends Out Grand Hombre

Anyone who attended last year's Dubai World Cup meeting will struggle to forget the uplifting impact of South African trainer Mike de Kock and his merry band of owners.

Grand Hombre Favored in Strong Indiana Derby Field

Grand Hombre has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $400,000 Indiana Derby (gr. III) Oct. 4 at Hoosier Park. Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando is second choice at 5-2 in a field of 11 scheduled to compete in the 1/16-mile feature at the Indiana racetrack.

Hoosier Has Horses, But Purses Down Substantially

Hoosier Park will kick off its ninth season of Thoroughbred racing Aug. 29 with a streamlined program: Because of the presence of second racetrack in Indiana, purses are down a substantial $80,000 to $90,000 a day from 2002.

Perfect Drift Deserves World Stage, Johnson Says

Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, who edged heavily favored Mineshaft in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), will get a little time to relax after the biggest win of his career. After that, the sky's the limit, says trainer Murray Johnson.

Perfect Drift Outlasts Easyfromthegitgo in Indy Derby

Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift, who was making his first start since the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on June 8, took command at the head of the stretch and held off the fast-closing Easyfromthegitgo to win the eighth running of the $400,000 Indiana Derby (gr. III) by 3/4 of a length at Hoosier Park Saturday.

'Ferry' Meets Perfect Drift in Indiana Derby

Wiseman's Ferry, the Lone Star and West Virginia Derby (both gr. III) winner, has been installed the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday's Indiana Derby (gr. III), and the son of Hennessy will face 11 rivals including Triple Crown runners Perfect Drift and Easyfromthegitgo.

Purse Increase and Graded Status Attracts Runners to Indiana

An extra $100,000 added to the purse and graded status has attracted more than 40 nominations to the $400,000 Indiana Derby (gr. III) on Oct. 5 at Hoosier Park. The Oct. 4 Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks was boosted to grade III status last year and received a $100,000 purse increase this year. The $300,000 Oaks attracted more than 20 nominations.

Here and There

Bits and pieces from around the Thoroughbred industry...

Lukas-Trained Colt Upsets Indiana Derby

With a quick hustle to the lead from the gate, Orientate dictated the remainder of the race to win the $300,000-added Indiana Derby. The 1 1/16-mile race is the signature event for Hoosier Park, attracting a crowd of 6,337, which ranks among the facility's top ten attended events in the history of the track.

Dutrow's One-Two Punch Tops Indiana Derby

The Tony Dutrow-trained entry of Saratoga Games and Burning Roma is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $300,000 Indiana Derby at 1 1/16 miles at Hoosier Park. A full field of 12 will contest the ninth race on the program.