Indiana Derby a true test for Atreides
Vicar’s in Trouble came out of nowhere last winter to win the Lecomte Stakes and the $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
Atreides came out of nowhere in July.
Late to make the races, he won his debut at Gulfstream Park by more than five lengths, running as fast as a graded-stakes horse, before going on to two more sharp scores.
On Saturday night at Indiana Grand, Vicar’s in Trouble and Atreides come together, the two prime players in the Grade 2, $500,000 Indiana Derby, and they drew side-by-side in a nine-horse field. Atreides starts in post 3 for owner-breeder Stonestreet Farm, trainer Marty Wolfson, and jockey Joel Rosario. Vicar’s in Trouble and Rosie Napravnik break from post 4, carrying the hopes of owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker.
The 20th running of the Indiana Derby goes as race 10 on an 11-race card scheduled to begin at 5:05 p.m. Eastern. Post time for the Derby is 9:30, and it’s immediately preceded by the Grade 2, $200,000 Indiana Oaks.
On the merits, Vicar’s in Trouble should be favored, but Atreides is the 6-5 choice on the morning line for the 1 1/16-mile dirt race. Atreides makes his first start around two turns, ships for the first time, has only started at Gulfstream, and never has raced in a graded stakes. Vicar’s in Trouble has won three graded races and more than $1.1 million while racing at five different venues, showing that he can ship and fire. But such is the power of speed figures and hype, both of which Atreides might well live up to.
KEY CONTENDERS
Vicar’s in Trouble (Last 3 Beyers: 99-98-84)
◗ He was wiped out early in the Kentucky Derby, losing all chance, and failed to handle a sloppy track in the Iowa Derby next out.
◗ He rebounded with a good third behind Tapiture and Candy Boy in the West Virginia Derby before crushing rivals in the Super Derby. “He was pressured every step in West Virginia, and I think the competition was a lot tougher there than in the Super Derby,” Maker said.
◗ He cuts back from two 1 1/8-mile races to 1 1/16 miles, a better distance for the small, speedy horse.
◗ Maker has a string at Indiana Grand, where he’s won 21 races at the current meet.
Atreides (Last 3 Beyers: 105-102-105)
◗ He is the third horse in the history of Beyer Speed Figures to earn triple-digit figures in his first three starts.
◗ He rated off a moderate pace in his third start after running fast early in his first two. “He acts like routing won’t be a problem,” Wolfson said. “He’s really easy to manipulate in a race.”
C J’s Awesome (Last 3 Beyers: 99-100-87)
◗ He finished a creditable fourth behind Bayern in the Pennsylvania Derby.
◗ He might prefer a longer distance.
◗ He never has passed a horse between the stretch call and finish.