Indiana Derby Among Six Stakes Races on Saturday at Indiana Grand

If the thought of a Saturday evening filled with quality, competitive horse racing sounds fun to you, then you’re in luck!

The upcoming July 14th card at Indiana Grand includes six stakes races, two of them graded, and the racing action will continue until past 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Let’s take a quick look at the major races on the card….

Race 4: Mari Hulman George Stakes

Seven fillies and mares will travel 8.5 furlongs in this $100,000 event, with Summer Luck—third in the Regret Stakes (gr. III) and runner-up in the Dueling Grounds Oaks, both on turf last summer—looming as the possible favorite. But Awestruck, fourth in the Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) last time out, is just as fast in terms of BRIS speed figures, and Torrent has been running well against tougher company, making this one of the more competitive races on the card.

Race 5: Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes

Seeking the Soul hasn’t run since January, but he’s the class of this field by virtue of his win in the Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs last fall. With three straight triple-digit BRIS speed figures on his record, he’ll be the horse to beat even off the layoff, with 2017 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) runner-up Lookin at Lee and 2017 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) winner Guest Suite among the other contenders.

Race 6: Indiana General Assembly Distaff Stakes

There are plenty of fillies and mares to choose from in this 8.5-furlong turf event, with the three-time graded stakes winner Lovely Bernadatte among the most accomplished. She looms as the deserving favorite, though last year’s winner Lovely Loyree is back to defend her title and Res Ipsa has also run well at the graded stakes level.

Race 7: Warrior Veterans Stakes

My Bariley impressed while winning the Mystic Lake Mile at Canterbury last month with a sharp late rally and could be favored in this 8.5-furlong grass race, though Swagger Jagger and One Mean Man are both veteran stakes competitors that can’t be counted out, while Dot Matrix has been running on tougher circuits and could be ready to step up his game at Indiana Grand.

Race 8: Indiana Oaks (gr. III)

Talk Veuve to Me, runner-up in both the Eight Belles Stakes (gr. II) and the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) this spring, is clearly the class of this race, though she’ll be negotiating two turns for the first time and facing a solid field that includes the two-time graded stakes-placed Kelly’s Humor and the versatile stakes winner Figarella’s Queen.

Race 9: Indiana Derby (gr. II)

Trigger Warning, Givemeaminit, and Dark Vader have all placed at the graded stakes level and will garner some wagering support in the evening’s feature race, but it’s King Zachary—4 ¾-length winner of the Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs last month—who looms as the horse to beat.

Post time for the first race on the card is 5:30 p.m. Eastern.