Derby Express poised to move forward in Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes
With a slow three-eighths, a moderate half-mile, and a slow half-mile constituting the work pattern for his 3-year-old debut, Derby Express looked like he might be a short horse when he returned from a six-month layoff May 26 at Indiana Grand. And he ran like one, too, coming home a one-paced third in the $103,000 Sagamore Sired Stakes.
But Derby Express ran well enough that day, finishing third, to suggest that he will soon regain his best 2-year-old form, and that would make him a winner Wednesday at Indiana Grand in the colts-and-geldings division of the $100,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes.
Derby Express is one of 10 entered in the race for Indiana-bred 3-year-olds, and at something like his 5-2 morning-line odds, he’d be an appealing play. Wednesday’s race will be contested at 1 1/16 miles, and Derby Express already proved his worth around two turns, winning the Indiana Futurity last fall by five lengths.
Derby Express cracked his shin while finishing 11th in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last fall, but trainer Jeff Greenhill said before the Sagamore Sired that Derby Express appeared to have made a full recovery and that he expected the colt, bred by Greenhill Racing and owned by Sherri Greenhill, to have a productive 3-year-old campaign following a juvenile season that saw him emerge as the leading Indiana-bred male.
Strong Composition, who came in from Florida to win the Sagamore Sired by two lengths, is back for the Hoosier Breeders Sophomore, but he is marooned out in post 10 while stretching out from sprints to a route. He exits the best race of his career and does not have the upside Wednesday of Derby Express.
Trainer Mike Lauer has two last-out maiden route winners, Sights and Sounds and Badabing Badaboom, who delivered encouraging performances – Sights and Sounds in particular – and have an upset chance with continued progress.
Carmalley Chrome back for more
Carmalley Chrome continues her busy 2016 campaign when she starts as the likely favorite in the fillies division of the $100,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore. She’s one of nine in the race and once again meets Peyton’s Pass, with whom she’s traded decisions in two recent Indiana Grand races.
Carmalley Chrome didn’t debut until April 27, and already she has squeezed four starts into her career. Peyton’s Pass ran past her two races ago in a sprint stakes but could not finish with Carmalley Chrome going two turns June 11 in another Indiana-bred stakes.
Both those fillies are exposed, however, and Sassy Miss Officer, 8-1 on the morning line, can win at a price. She has a win and a pair of seconds in her three two-turn dirt races and can get a favorable stalking trip Wednesday.