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.

The Derby, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, is scheduled for the evening of Oct. 7. The night before, Hoosier Park will hold the $400,000 Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Bright One, owned by Carolyn Sue Bruder and Delmar Daubs, would enter the Indiana Derby off an impressive win in the Aug. 5 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort. The Dance Brightly colt, bred by Mike Bruder and trained by Dale Romans, has won three of four starts for earnings of $535,554.

Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Brother Derek, owned by Cecil Peacock and trained by Dan Hendricks, finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I). The son of Benchmark most recently finished fourth in the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar. Brother Derek has won $806,378 this season and more than $1.3 million in his career.

The Neil Howard-trained War Chant colt Brilliant is coming off a 6 1/2-length win in the Sept. 9 Kent Breeders' Cup Stakes at Delaware Park. Bred and owned by Mill House, Brilliant has competed in two other graded events--a win in the $200,000 Jefferson Cup (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs and a fifth-place finish in the $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga. With five wins in eight starts, the colt has won $543,128.

Peachtree Stable's High Cotton, runner-up in the $350,000 Ohio Derby (gr. II), could also make his next start at Hoosier Park. The Dixie Union colt, trained by Todd Pletcher, finished fifth in the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. High Cotton earlier won the $200,000 Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill.

Others nominated to the Indiana Derby include West Virginia Derby runner-up Cielo Gold; Dr. Pleasure, third in the Travers; Jim Dandy (gr. II) runner-up Minister's Bid; Iowa Derby and Prairie Meadows Derby winner More Than Regal; Kings Bishop Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Star Dabbler; and Sharp Humor, who hasn't started since his 19th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Lemons Forever and Frizette Stakes (gr. I) and Delaware Oaks (gr. II) winner Adieu highlight a group of 22 fillies nominated to the Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks.

Horton Stable and trainer Dallas Stewart's Lemons Forever has competed in three consecutive grade I events since her Kentucky Oaks win. The Lemon Drop Kid   filly was third in her last start, the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 19.

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith's Adieu is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Alabama. Trained by Pletcher, the El Corredor filly has won once in four starts this season, the victory having come in the $500,000 Delaware Oaks.

Iowa Oaks (gr. III) winner Baghdaria, another Oaks nominee, finished third in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico Race Course. By Royal Academy, Baghdaria is owned by Clinton and Susan Atkins and trained by Tom Amoss.

Miraculous Miss currently enjoys a three-race win streak for owners Puglisi Stables and trainer Steve Klesaris. The Mr. Greeley filly has made five consecutive starts in graded stakes company and won four times. Her latest triumph came in the $200,000 Endine Handicap (gr. III) at Delaware Park.

Other fillies nominated to the Oaks include Kentucky Oaks runner-up Ermine, Gardenia Handicap (gr. III) runner-up Maggie Slew, and Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) winner Ready To Please.