By Brian DiDonato
A $500,000 purse and the chance for a Grade II on the resume has attracted a full and intriguing field of 12 for Saturday night's Indiana Derby. Among the wide-open group of sophomores is highly regarded up-and-comer The Player (Street Hero). The chestnut put it all together to earn his diploma by 5 1/2 lengths when stretched to a mile third out at Churchill May 14, and came through again at short odds over the same track and trip June 3. Bred by Carl Hurst, trainer Buff Bradley and his recently deceased father William Bradley, The Player will look to follow in the hoofsteps of Brass Hat (Prized), who annexed this race for the Bradleys in 2004. “I think he's ready to go for this race,” Buff Bradley told Jennie Rees earlier this week. “He's done everything right, we're ready to go. We're excited to run in it. I just hope we have the same result as I had 12 years ago.”
Cherry Wine (Paddy O'Prado), one of two 'TDN Rising Stars' here trained by Dale Romans, could get the right pace set-up. A romping Gulfstream optional claiming winner in January, the grey arrived a bit too late on the scene in each of his next three outings–when fourth behind Cupid (Tapit) in Oaklawn's GII Rebel S. Mar. 19; third behind stablemate Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway) in Keeneland's GI Blue Grass S. Apr. 9; and when nipping GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (Uncle Mo) for second in the GI Preakness S. May 21. Cherry Wine was a disappointing eighth last time in the GI Belmont S. June 11. Fellow Romans trainee Takeittotheedge (Broken Vow) was super impressive airing in his seven-panel debut at Gulfstream Mar. 5, but broke very poorly in the Apr. 2 GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby as the expected pacesetter and never recovered. He was third in his Churchill comebacker June 26.
Cupid, a $900,000 KEESEP purchase by the Coolmore contingent, was extremely impressive setting the pace and finding another gear to defeat GI Arkansas Derby third and first-place finishers Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) and Creator (Tapit) as well as Cherry Wine in the Rebel. Things didn't go nearly as well for him in the Apr. 16 Arkansas Derby, as he never looked comfortable and checked in 10th. The grey underwent surgery after his Arkansas Derby disappointment was chalked up to an entrapped epiglottis, and he was to get back on track in Belmont's Easy Goer S. June 11. Off slowly, Cupid was extremely headstrong and rushed up to force the issue out wide before backing up to last at the finish.
Star Hill (Elusive Quality) never seems to have any luck at the post position draw, and is marooned out in the 12 hole again here. Fifth when breaking from the 13 post in the Blue Grass, he ran on late to complete the trifecta in the GIII Pat Day Mile May 7 when again wearing lucky–or more unlucky–number 13. Away from the widest gate in Belmont's GII Woody Stephens S., he uncorked what looked like a winning turn move, only to be herded out by runner-up Fish Trappe Road (Trappe Shot) and settle for third. Fish Trappe Road was recently a convincing winner of Belmont's GII Dwyer S. July 9.
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