Indiana Derby Highlights 2011 Stakes Season at Hoosier Park
Once again, the Grade II $500,000-added Indiana Derby will be the highlight of the Thoroughbred season at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Now in its 17th running, the Derby has created a stop for several of the top three-year-olds in the nation searching for a final prep en route to the Breeders’ Cup. Last year, Lookin At Lucky and Martin Garcia were an impressive pair in the event and went on to a fourth place finish in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Lookin At Lucky joins an impressive list of winners for the Indiana Derby. Other past winners include Orientate, Perfect Drift, and Brass Hat. Nominations for the 17th running of the Indiana Derby along with the 16th running of the Indiana Oaks, the 12th running of the Schaefer Mile Memorial, and the first running of the Hulman George will close Wednesday, Sept. 14.
The Indiana Derby is placed in its customary first Saturday in October slot, landing on Saturday, Oct. 1. As in 2010, the race pushes purses for the entire day over the $1 million mark, a first in Indiana Thoroughbred racing history. Joining the Indiana Derby will be the Grade II $200,000-added Indiana Oaks, the $100,000-added Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Mile, and the $100,000-added Mari Hulman George Stakes. The Mari Hulman George Stakes is a new event this season and takes the place of the $100,000 Wigwam Stakes, which was installed on the schedule in 2010.
In addition to open events, several Indiana Stakes will be on the stellar afternoon racing card, including the $84,000 Indiana Futurity, the $84,000 Miss Indiana Stakes, the $84,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes, the $84,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes Filly Division, the $84,000 Gus Grissom Stakes, and the $84,000 Richmond Stakes. Total purse money for the day will be in excess of $1.4 million, a new record.
The 2011 Thoroughbred stakes season gets underway Saturday, Aug. 27 with the 15th running of the $84,000 Brickyard Stakes and the 17th running of the $84,000 Merrillville Stakes. Unreachable Star has been the standout in the Brickyard the past two seasons, taking home the title. Last year’s Merrillville title went to veteran race mare Linda’s Lace for trainer Bob Zahl.
The Don K. Memorial Starter Handicap Series is also slated for the 2011 season. Five legs of the series are scheduled with the distance increasing throughout the meet, ending with the fifth leg on closing day Sunday, Oct. 23 running at a distance of one and one-eighth mile. The $84,000 To Much Coffee Stakes will also be contested on the final racing program of the season.
For more information on all stakes races at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, log onto www.hoosierpark.com.
LOOKIN AT LUCKY WINNING LAST YEAR'S INDIANA DERBY
Photo by Linscott Photography