Risen Star big test for Noble Indy
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NEW ORLEANS – Noble Indy failed to meet a mere $45,000 reserve when taken to auction as a yearling. In that regard, he already has exceeded early expectations, and could continue on the Triple Crown trail with a solid showing Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Noble Indy, who had been considered for other 3-year-old stakes, worked five furlongs in 1:01.12 Saturday at Palm Beach Downs in Florida, exited the work in good order, and has a Wednesday flight booked to New Orleans.
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“We’re leaning toward running,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who trains Noble Indy for owner-breeder WinStar Farm. “He worked well and came out of the work well. Things seem to be falling into place. We’re happy Johnny is there to ride.”
John Velazquez has a return call on Wonder Gadot in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Saturday and will ride Noble Indy in the Risen Star. Tyler Gaffalione rode Noble Indy to an 8 3/4-length debut win Dec. 3 at Gulfstream, but Velazquez was aboard when Noble Indy stretched from seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles and beat Mississippi in a first-level Gulfstream allowance Jan. 11.
Noble Indy is by Take Charge Indy and out of the Storm Boot mare Noble Maz, and if he did not impress buyers as a yearling, he impressed the Pletcher barn after arriving at Palm Beach Downs in late September after getting in a few works at WinStar’s training track.
“He came to us as a big, good-looking, physical colt we were kind of impressed with from early on,” Pletcher said. “He trained impressively, and we expected him to run well in his debut. He was fractious in the gate, which wasn’t a total surprise. It was something we worked on before his first start and continue to work on, but that’s the only thing we’ve had to work on with him, really. He’s been very professional.”
Pletcher has twice won the Risen Star, capturing the 2010 edition with Discreetly Mine and the 2012 renewal with El Padrino. Discreetly Mine had raced six times before shipping to New Orleans, and while El Padrino like Noble Indy also exited a first-level Gulfstream allowance win, his four pre-Risen Star starts included a close third in the Remsen Stakes.
