A.P. Indian uses speed to snare Decathlon

A.P. Indian, a 5-year-old making only his eighth career start, turned in a sharp front-running effort to win the opening-day Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

A.P. Indian was making his third start for trainer Arnaud Delacour. In his two prior races, he had finished second by a nose in a 1 1/16-mile, third-level optional claiming race at Keeneland and had won a 6 1/2-furlong, second-level optional claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs by 3 1/2 lengths. Prior to that, he had been off for more than a year.

On a day when speed was playing well at Monmouth, A.P. Indian moved up to take the early lead in the six-furlong Decathlon under jockey Daniel Centeno, with Tenango and Prudhoe Bay applying light pressure from the outside. Nearing the stretch, Favorite Tale, the 6-5, favorite who had been tracking the leaders while saving ground, angled outside A.P. Indian and lodged his bid.

Favorite Tale may have reached even terms with the winner in upper stretch but the battle was quickly over and A.P. Indian pulled away. He crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths in front. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back from Favorite Tale to third-place finisher Saucy Don, who saved ground throughout.

The fractions were 22.21 seconds, 45.02, and 57.20, with a final time of 1:09.50. A.P. Indian paid $6.40 as the second choice in the 10-horse field.

“He’s a very versatile horse; he can go long or short,” Delacour said. “I knew he had that kind of speed and we wanted to use it today. He’s very fit coming out of a two-turn race so I knew he would have plenty left at the end.”

Next Saturday, Delacour is scheduled to send out his first Triple Crown starter when Lexington Stakes winner Divining Rod runs in the Preakness Stakes.

The Decathlon was Centeno’s second win on the opening-day card.