Love Of Money Tops Indiana Derby Nominees

by James Platz
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.

The list of possible starters for the Anderson, Ind. track's signature Thoroughbred event includes a mix of classic competitors, derby winners and even a local favorite. The tenth running of the Indiana Derby is Oct. 2.

Other participants in the Pennsylvania Derby, which was run Sept. 6, include Paranack Stable's Song of the Sword and Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Tapit.

Other possible entries in the 1 1/16-mile event include Ohio Derby (gr. II) victor Brass Hat; Bob and Beverly Lewis' Courageous Act, third in Del Mar's El Cajon, and Ice Wynnd Fire, a distant second in the Jerome Handicap (gr. II) Sept. 18.

El Cajon winner Perfect Moon, trained by Doug O'Neill, conditioner of 2003 Indiana Derby winner Excessivepleasure, is possible, as well as Jim Dandy (gr. II) winner Purge, who finished fourth in the $1 Million Travers Stakes (gr. I), and Suave, who captured the Northern Dancer (gr. III) and was second to Rock Hard Ten in the Swaps BC (gr. II).

Edgerrin, named after Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James, has been nominated by owners Herb and Darlene Likens. Trained by Stanley Roberts, the Category Five gelding was perfect in three stakes events at Hoosier Park last fall. The Indiana bred has two allowance wins and a stakes win to his credit in eight starts this year.

Spendthrift Farm's Stellar Jayne tops a list of 31 nominees to the $400,000-added Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. III). The 1 1/16-mile race, now in its tenth running, will be held Oct. 1.

After a second-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Stellar Jayne has reeled off three wins and two runner-up efforts, all in graded stakes. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas' Wild Rush filly is coming off a one-length win in the Gazelle (gr. I), where she defeated fellow nominee Daydreaming..

Other entries to the graded event include Society Selection, winner of the Alabama Stakes (gr. I); Island Sand, who has hit the board for owner James Osborne in her last four starts, each a graded stake; Tampa Bay Breeders' Cup (gr. III) winner Susan's Angel; Ender's Sister, an A.P. Indy filly that is graded stakes placed at three different venues this year; and Stonerside Stable's Catboat, winner of the Arlington Breeders' Cup Oaks (gr. III).