Indiana Derby Betting: Is Coal Battle Set to Return to Winner’s Circle?

The biggest day of horse racing in Indiana is set for Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis, featuring the $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) led by a trio of Kentucky Derby (G1) runners – Chunk of Gold, Coal Battle, and Publisher.

Coal Battle, 11^th in the Kentucky Derby on May 3, is the 7-2 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16^th-mile race for 3-year-olds, with Texas Derby winner Instant Replay the second choice at 4-1.

Chunk of Gold, ninth in the Derby, is 6-1 in the field of nine, with Publisher, 14^th in the Derby, at 5-1.

Coal Battle, trained by 72-year-old Lonnie Briley, was a close third in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on June 8 in his first race since the Derby. The Coal Front colt will be ridden again by Corey Lanerie, leaving from post 3.

A winner of the Springboard Mile, the Smarty Jones, and the Rebel Stakes (G2), Coal Battle is looking to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since February. He’s typically a closer but stalked the pace in the Matt Winn.

Chunk of Gold, trained by Ethan West, returns two weeks after finishing second in the Ohio Derby (G3) behind Mo Plex. The gray colt, also a closer, has a maiden win in six career starts. He breaks from post 5 under Jareth Loveberry and will be fitted with blinkers.

Publisher is making his first start since the Derby and looking for his first victory – he's 0-for-8. The son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will be ridden for the first time by Hall of Famer Mike Smith.

Derby runners aside, Instant Replay has won three of his last four races, the only defeat a third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) behind Tiztastic and Chunk of Gold. The son of Maximum Security colt is trained by Brad Cox, seeking a third straight Indiana Derby victory.

Big Truzz, cross-entered in the Iowa Derby, is likely to run here for trainer Brian Lynch and is listed at 9-2 in what would be just his fourth career start.

The top undercard race Saturday is the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) at the Shelbyville, Indiana, track. Clicquot is the 8-5 favorite over 9-5 Heavenly Sunset in a field of six 3-year-old fillies.

Post time for the Indiana Derby is 6:33 p.m. ET.

For those who bet on horse racing ...

The picks: 1 Instant Replay, 2 Coal Battle, 3 Chunk of Gold

The field for the $300,000 Indiana Derby, from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:

• Publisher (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen), 5-1 
• Master Controller (Christopher Emigh, Brittany Vanden Berg), 15-1 
• Coal Battle (Corey Lanerie, Lonnie Briley), 7-2
• Shan (Evan Roman, Ed Moger, Jr.), 30-1 
• Chunk of Gold (Jareth Loveberry, Ethan West), 6-1
• Tip Top Thomas (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher), 6-1
• Big Truzz (Declan Cannon, Brian Lynch), 9-2 
• Brotha Keny (Joe Ramos, Bill Morey), 12-1 
• Instant Replay (Luan Machado, Brad Cox), 4-1

Richard Rosenblatt