After losing his perfect record when third in the Feb. 17 GII Risen Star S., blinkers proved to be the key for 'TDN Rising Star' Noble Indy, who clawed his way back to the lead in the final strides of Saturday's GII Louisiana Derby to secure his spot in the GI Kentucky Derby starting gate. The 5-2 favorite broke a bit to the right, lightly bumping 99-1 shot Marmello (Concord Point), but was quickly corrected by Hall of Fame pilot John Velazquez and sent to the front. Conceding the lead to Marmello, the bay stalked from second through swift opening splits of :22.97 and :46.61 with Risen Star winner Bravazo (Awesome Again) close behind in third.
Noble Indy charged out to a clear lead with five-eighths left to run as GIII Southwest S. victor My Boy Jack (Creative Cause) made an eye-catching move down the center of the track from last to put himself in contention turning for home. Still at the head of affairs in the stretch, Noble Indy was confronted by Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior) and those two battled stride-for-stride as My Boy Jack continued to make steady progress to their outside. Lone Sailor briefly headed Noble Indy in the long Fair Grounds stretch, but the Todd Pletcher pupil clawed his way back to register a neck success. Lone Sailor held second by a half-length over My Boy Jack.
“The blinkers made him concentrate a little bit better and he is braver that way,” Velazquez said. “He is still a little bit green, which is why we put the blinkers on him.”
Velazquez continued, “The pace was much faster than I anticipated today. I tried to give him a little break on the backstretch and he got a little keen on me and finally by the half-mile pole I decided not to fight him anymore and he had nice run down the lane.”
“Todd has done a great job with him and he has developed very nicely,” said part-owner WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden. “He won his first two starts easily and then came here and got a little education, coming from off the pace a little bit and took some dirt in his face [in the Risen Star]. He was a real brat in the paddock that day, but he grew up today. The experience of coming over here twice, I think really helped him.”
Romping by 8 3/4 lengths in his seven-panel unveiling at Gulfstream Dec. 3, Noble Indy earned his 'TDN Rising Star' nod with a 3/4-length success in his first attempt around two turns in Hallandale Jan. 11. He checked in third behind Bravazo and Snapper Sinclair (City Zip), who finished fifth here, last time in the Risen Star.
Pedigree Notes:
Noble Indy is the fifth black-type winner from the first crop of GI Florida Derby hero Take Charge Indy, a former WinStar sire who now resides in Korea. He is the second foal out of Noble Maz, whose most recent produce is a 2-year-old filly by Revolutionary. The winner hails from the family of MGISW Banker's Lady (Nijinsky II), who produced MGSW & MGISP Banker's Gold (Forty Niner); and Grade I winner Ecton Park (Forty Niner).
TWINSPIRES.COM LOUISIANA DERBY-GII, $1,000,000, FG, 3-24, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.28, ft.
1–NOBLE INDY, 122, c, 3, by Take Charge Indy
1st Dam: Noble Maz (MSW, $327,340), by Storm Boot
2nd Dam: Illusive Note, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Niner's Gal, by Forty Niner
'TDN RISING STAR' 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED
STAKES WIN.($45,000RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-WinStar Farm
LLC & Repole Stable; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $600,000. Lifetime Record:
4-3-0-1, $691,600. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+ [bullet ad=”denali-sold”][bullet ad=”winstar-bred”][bullet ad=”winstar-win-20000″][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Lone Sailor, 122, c, 3, Majestic Warrior–Ambitious, by Mr.
Greeley. ($120,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-G M B Racing;
B-Alexander – Groves – Matz, LLC. (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss.
$200,000.[bullet ad=”gainesway-consigned-by”]3–My Boy Jack, 122, c, 3, Creative Cause–Gold N Shaft, by
Mineshaft. ($14,000 RNA Wlg '15 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg '16
KEESEP). O-Don't Tell My Wife Stables & Monomoy Stables,
LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-J. Keith Desormeaux.
$100,000.[bullet ad=”legacy-bloodstock-my-boy-
Also Ran: Givemeaminit, Snapper Sinclair, Hyndford, Retirement Fund, Bravazo, Dark Templar, Marmello. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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