The $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) has been set for Saturday night at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Indiana. Inaugurated in 1995, it serves as the track's flagship event and was originally contested across town at Hoosier Park. The race moved to its current location in 2013 where it has remained.
The 1 1/16-mile test was upgraded to Grade 3 status in 2002, briefly reached Grade 2 from 2004 to 2016, and returned to Grade 3 in 2017. The race has been held in July since 2015 and was briefly at the 1 1/8-mile distance for the 2020 renewal.
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert leads all trainers with four wins, while jockeys Robby Albarado and Florent Geroux each have three.
Notable past winners include Misremembered (2009), who was trained by Baffert and set a track record of 1:40.80 (at Hoosier Park) and later won the Santa Anita Handicap (G1). Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Lookin At Lucky (2010), another Baffert trainee who was two-time champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, became the first Triple Crown race winner to compete in Indiana, winning impressively as the heavy favorite in a last-to-first effort.
Other notable names in the history books include Perfect Drift (2002), who earned over $4.7 million in his career and won multiple Grade 1 races; Brass Hat (2004) was a durable Grade 1 winner with more than $2 million in earnings; and Orientate (2001), who went on to become a champion sprinter the following year.
Recent standouts include Mr. Money (2019), Irap (2017), Cupid (2016), Verifying (2023), Dragoon Guard (2024), and Tip Top Thomas (2025), who set a new track record at the current facility (1:41.15).
This year marks the 32nd running and features a competitive field of eight 3-year-olds.
Our Moneyman (4-1), an ultra-consistent runner (8-3-4-1) with more than $332,000 in earnings, is a son of 2019 Indiana Derby winner Mr. Money. This colt is a two-time Louisiana-bred stakes winner who raced well in open stakes company to finish second in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs behind the highly regarded Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Further Ado. This stalker, who rarely finishes off the board, is the top contender for two-time winning trainer Bret Calhoun and jockey Axel Concepcion.
Out of the Woods (9-2) has a somewhat interesting story. The $325,000 2-year-old in training started his career in California with Baffert where he was winless in five starts. He was then transferred to fellow California-based trainer Phil D’Amato, who sent him on the road to break his maiden at Oaklawn an then win a salty allowance at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. He was then second in the Delaware Derby and returns here as a logical contender for a first stakes win. Under Luis Saez, he is dangerous with current form.
Leading jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will be in town to ride Leading Change (5-1) for Brad Cox. The $800,000 son of Gun Runner won his only race last month at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs by 6 1/2 lengths. This half-brother to Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil looks to be an off-the-pace type but it’s hard to predict where he’ll end up stretching out and around two turns for the first time. This talented and well-bred maiden winner is intriguing jumping right into stakes company but make sure you get good odds.
Another super consistent Louisiana-bred runner is Creole Chrome (6-1), who has earned multiple state-bred stakes wins. He was a decent fourth, considering the level of competition, in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland in the spring but rebounded with a big stakes win at Evangeline two races later. Joe Sharp trains the son of Volatile, who will likely either show the way or sit just behind the pace. He needs to prove he belongs in graded stakes company but brings in good momentum. Junior Alvarado will be aboard.
Imagine Racing’s Bricklin (8-1) has shown ability in graded stakes company, including a third in the Sunland Derby and a fourth in a salty Arkansas Derby (G1) earlier this year. Unfortunately he’s not consistent at this level and trainer Rodolphe Brisset needs to have him at his absolute bet to be a factor. The son Nyquist colt presses the pace and his overall speed figures say he has an outside shot for a share but consistency is a question. Kazushi Kimura will ride.
Lightly raced Lighter (20-1), who is also trained by Brisset, broke his maiden sprinting over this track in his debut but was a well-beaten third stretching out in an allowance company at Churchill Downs last out. The Constitution colt, who stalks from just off the pace, is certainly ambitiously placed in this stakes debut and needs significant improvement against stronger company to be a factor. Marcelino Pedroza Jr. rides from the rail.
Zihnal (12-1) was unraced as a juvenile and has earned a record of 3-1-0-0 this year, including a recent maiden winner at this track going a mile and 70 yards on dirt. This Augustin Stable Quality Road homebred is a stalker and the gelding has shown promise. He has been entered and scratched from stakes before and needs a big step forward in class. Jonathan Thomas trains and the comebacking Umberto Rispoli will be aboard.
Indiana-bred Mister T (30-1) has won half of his six career starts including the Indiana Futurity and Crown Ambassador Stakes last year, but was crushed stepping up into Grade 3 company earlier this year. A closer/stalker by Sahara Sky who is trained by Justin Bailey and will be ridden by Michell Murrill, his best performances have come against restricted company and he’ll need a career-best effort here.
The Indiana Oaks (G3) is the Indiana Derby’s filly counterpart and this year five will head to the gate and race the 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
The race was inaugurated in 1995 at Hoosier Park and contested at a mile and then shifted to the current distance after two runnings. It earned Grade 3 status in 2001, was briefly Grade 2 for nine years and then was returned to Grade 3 status in 2017.
Once again the race offers a $200,000 purse and serves as a key summer stakes for emerging 3-year-old fillies, sometimes acting as a stepping stone for a strong second half of the year or consolation for those coming off the Kentucky Oaks trail.
Notable previous winners include the aforementioned Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil (2020), whose half-brother runs in the Derby; and Grade 1 winners Awesome Humor (2003), Grace Hall (2012), and Street Band (2019).
Jockey Julien Leparoux holds the record as leading rider with four wins (2011–2018), and three trainers – Carl Nafzger, Brad Cox and Kenny McPeek – have each saddled a pair of winners.
Prom Queen (9-5) is the slightly stronger of the two Brad Cox runners who is coming off a troubled fourth in the Acorn Stakes (G1) last out after a flat fifth in the Kentucky Oaks two months ago. She already is a graded winner having taken the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) earlier this year by 2 ½ lengths. The daughter of Quality Road has proven class, tactical versatility, and a strong finishing kick and is a top contender with her best.
The Kenny McPeek-trained Maximum Offer (7-2) returns to a more reasonable spot after a total trouncing and last-place finish as the longest shot on the board in the Acorn Stakes (G1) last month. This Maxfield filly owns a strong tactical style/mid-pack closing ability, which will help in this short but speedy field. She certainly is bred for the distance and her best puts her in the hunt for a larger share under Luis Saez.
Betty's Pearl (9-2) is a $700,000 Munnings filly who has a pair of wins in her eight-race career, including an impressive score at Churchill last out at a flat mile. She is a dangerous closer who will likely relish added distance power and though unsuccessful in her only previous stakes start, has found a legit spot to return for a second try. Expect her to rally from off the pace in a field with speed. Brian Lynch trains and jockey Mario Gutierrez will be aboard.
Hall of Famer Bill Mott ships Star Actress (8-1) in from Churchill Downs off a second in allowance company last month. The lightly raced Justify filly, who didn’t start as a juvenile, broke her maiden at Gulfstream and was also a decent third in the Ashland Stakes (G1) three back. She has shown promise with her tactical speed and has posted competitive speed figures that suggest she belongs here. Expect her to be forwardly placed or mid-pack with room to improve stretching out under jockey Junior Alvarado.
Nahla (6-1) broke her maiden last out over this track and at the distance in just her third career start. The Brad Cox trainee has shown versatility and late kick on dirt. The daughter of Authentic is certainly bred to handle two and she seems to be an improving sort with a fondness for the surface. Fernando De La Cruz will be aboard.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
