Stronghold Set for Comeback in Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis
Horseshoe Indianapolis, IN – June 23, 2024
Stronghold, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby starter, will make his return to racing this Saturday in the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The eight-horse field for the Indiana Derby headlines a total of eight races for Indiana’s biggest day of horse racing.
Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Stronghold will break from post position 2 in the Indiana Derby. The son of Ghostzapper has a record of 2 wins in 3 starts this season and has finished worse than second only once in his career, when he finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby.
Joining Stronghold as a major contender is E J Won the Cup, who comes to Indiana off a win in the $300,000 Texas Derby at Lone Star Park. The Omaha Beach colt, owned and trained by Doug O’Neill, will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith from post position 7 and is listed at 5-1 on the morning line.
The early favorite for the Indiana Derby is Dragoon Guard, a grey son of Arrogate trained by Brad Cox. Undefeated in 2 starts this year, Dragoon Guard will break from post 8 with Florent Geroux in the irons at odds of 8-5.
Cox is the defending Indiana Derby-winning trainer, having saddled Verifying to victory in last year’s running.
The $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) will also be contested on the card, with Impel, from the Brad Cox barn, installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite. Unraced at 2, Impel comes into the race off a second-place finish in the Eight Belles Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.
“The Indiana Derby is one of the top races in the Midwest, and we’re excited to have a top-class field compete this Saturday,” said Horseshoe Indianapolis racing secretary Kevin Greely.
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