AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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INDIANA DERBY (G2), 12TH-HOO, $500,000, 3YO, 1 1/16M, 6:02 P.M. EDT, 10-2 |
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| 1 |
DABOSSMAN, 3, c, by DrewmanBitdaboss, by Mystery Storm O-Penny S. Lauer; B-Michael E. & Penny S. Lauer (Fl) |
| 2 |
THISKYHASNOLIMIT, 3, c, by Sky MesaLovely Regina, by Deputy Minister O-Cathy and Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner; B-Stud Tnt (Ky) |
| 3 |
WORLDLY, 3, c, by A.P. IndyUrbane, by Citidancer O-Jay Em Ess Stable; B-Samantha & Mace Siegel (Ky) |
| 4 |
UAREOUTLAW (BRZ), 3, c, by Christine’s OutlawUniversal Rara, by Ramirito (Brz) O-F. Thomas Conway; B-Haras Cruz de Pedra (Brz) |
| 5 |
INDY BULL, 3, c, by Bull MarketPawnee Run, by Cherokee Run O-M C Roberts Racing Stable; B-Ledgerwood Farms (In) |
| 6 |
LOOKIN AT LUCKY, 3, c, by Smart StrikePrivate Feeling, by Belong to Me O-Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram and Paul Weitman; B-Gulf Coast Farms LLC (Ky) |
| 7 |
LITIGATION RISK, 3, c, by Closing ArgumentSilver Bliss, by Silver Deputy O-Klaravich Stables Inc.; B-Donna M. Wormser (Fl) |
| 8 |
NACHO FRIEND, 3, c, by Friends LakeYou’renotlistening, by Kennedy Road O-George and Lori Hall; B-Brereton C. Jones (Ky) |
| 9 |
ST. MAXIMUS GATO, 3, G, by Tactical CatReligious Colony, by Cherokee Colony O-Robert J. Hunt; B-Barney & Ann Gallagher (Il) |
It’s hard to look past LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike) in Saturday’s $500,000
Indiana Derby (G2) at Hoosier Park. Following a blowout win in the Haskell
Invitational (G1) last time, the Bob Baffert trainee looks like the
champion-in-waiting among the nation’s three-year-old males. Having also notched
the Preakness S. (G1) and Rebel S. (G2) this season, Lookin at Lucky should be
able to move on to the November 6 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) with a victory in
this 1 1/16-mile affair.
Though he got sick following the Haskell, last year’s juvenile champ has
satisfied his connections that he’s back to normal and he should prove it here
against a field that drew some decent horses but no one of his class. Martin
Garcia, who guided the bay to victory at Pimlico and Monmouth, is back up.
WORLDLY (A.P. Indy) has been the hard-luck horse of late, missing twice in
photo finishes in the Ohio Derby (G3) and Northern Dancer S. (G3). Though he’s still
eligible for a first-level allowance, his best race fits with these and he might
be overlooked a bit by those planning to key Lookin at Lucky on top in vertical
exotics.
LITIGATION RISK (Closing Argument) returned to better form with an
entry-level allowance score at Saratoga by more than five lengths last time.
Disappointing in the Holy Bull S. (G3) and Delta Jackpot S. (G3) two and three
back, the Aqueduct-based colt was subsequently flattered by Fly Down (Mineshaft)
when beating that foe in a maiden event last fall while under a hand ride. While
we could envision him reverting to his lesser form, we feel he still has a lot
of potential.
THISKYHASNOLIMIT (Sky Mesa) and NACHO FRIEND (Friends Lake) recently finished
one-two in the Smarty Jones S., a nominal prep for last week’s Pennsylvania
Derby (G2) over the same track. The former comfortably won by two lengths, and
we find him far more intriguing than the latter. However, Thiskyhasnolimit tends
to run either very well or far up the track, and with Lookin at Lucky in the
field, our bet would be on the latter.
The remainder of the field looks far outside their relative comfort zones.
UAREOUTLAW (Brz) (Christine’s Outlaw), having been bred in the Southern
Hemisphere, is developmentally several months behind his North American-bred
rivals. He was rated as Brazil’s champion two-year-old, but it has to be noted he clinched a Group 1
against that peer group more than a month after Lookin at Lucky’s Preakness
score. ST. MAXIMUS GATO (Tactical Cat) has romped in his last two at Calder by a
combined margin of 19 lengths, but faces a major class test here.
DABOSSMAN’s (Drewman) last win came against nonwinners-of-two running for a
$15,000 tag. INDY BULL (Bull Market) just graduated against Indiana-breds. No
thanks to both.