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.
Owned by Marshall Dowell, Scrappy T will be making his first start since the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), where he finished second to Afleet Alex. The son of Fit To Fight has two wins in five starts this season. He has never finished worse than third in 10 lifetime outings under the direction of trainer Rob Bailes. Scrappy T has been selected as the early morning line favorite at odds of 5-2. He will begin from post five with Ramon Dominguez aboard.
Don't Get Mad, fourth place finisher in this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I), will begin from post nine as the second choice on morning line at odds of 7-2 for rider Brice Blanc. The
Stephen Got Even colt last raced in the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, finishing fourth. Ron Ellis trains Don't Get Mad, who has nearly $500,000 in career earnings.
Also joining in the hunt for the title will be Southern Africa from the Michael Puhich barn. The Al and Saundra Kirkwood-owned colt comes to Indiana off a second-place finish in the $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II). A son of
Cape Town, Southern Africa will begin from post three for rider Tyler Baze.
The event will be carded as the ninth on the 12-race program with an estimated post time of 9:50 p.m. EST. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. for Indiana Derby Night.
The field for the $500,000 Indiana Derby with jockey and odds:
It's Time To Smile (Thomas Clifton) 15-1
Thors Echo (Felipe Martinez) 9-2
Southern Africa (Tyler Baze) 6-1
Greater Good (John McKee) 10-1
Scrappy T (Ramon Dominguez) 5-2
Purim (Mark Guidry) 8-1
Earths Vain Shadow (Tommy Pompell) 12-1
Apache Point (TBA) 20-1,
Don't Get Mad (Brice Blanc) 7-2
