Peck: How I'll play Indiana Grand for Saturday, July 14

The biggest day of the Indiana Grand meet features the Indiana Derby, which may prove to be wide open if able to beat morning-line favorite King Zachary. That runner comes off a career-best Beyer but could regress off that figure, earned with the aid of a forward trip in a race lacking pace. I'll use them all, but it becomes moot if not alive to the race. Here's one way to try to get there, "caveman style" due to uncertainty regarding Siem Riep:

RACE 6: KYLLACHY QUEEN ran a solid race in her last try going two turns on the turf, despite racing behind the pace in a race lacking speed. LOVELY BERNADETTE is the one to beat on the strength of the Mint Julep win in her latest. RES ISPA was only three lengths behind Lovely Bernadette in the Mint Julep, and she had trouble early on (3).

RACE 7: It's difficult to plot the Warrior Veterans Stakes not knowing the status of SIEM RIEP, who is cross-entered in the Schaefer Memorial, tonight's 5th race. This turf route is short on speed, and if he goes here he may be able to control the issue from his inside post. LANIER is another who figures to benefit from the apparent lack of pace in this field. If Siem Riep scratches here, I'll substitute SWAGGER JAGGER (2).

RACE 8: Obviously have to use TALK VEUVE TO ME, an "A" play for the purposes of this ticket. But her lack of two-turn experience is a concern, so I'll also include KELLY'S HUMOR, who would benefit from a quick, contested pace (2).

RACE 9: If you think KING ZACHARY is unlikely to run back that 98 Beyer he posted in the Matt Winn, a race where he benefited from favorable positioning in a race lacking speed, this race becomes wide open, as the others have competitive figures. As someone in that same camp I'll use them all and hope to beat the favorite with the most implausible runner possible (9).

THE PLAY: 3, 4, 6 / 2, 11 / 5, 6 / ALL = 108 Combinations ($54 Ticket).