Un Ojo and Rattle N Roll—two 3-year-olds who came close to starting in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) but did not—lead a field of 10 entered in the $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) July 9 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Cypress Creek Equine and Whispering Oaks Farm's Un Ojo, winner of the Rebel Stakes (G2) in February at Oaklawn Park, missed the Derby due to what his connections said was a bruised foot. Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll, meanwhile, the second also-eligible in the Derby—did not draw into the Run for the Roses, as first also-eligible and 80-1 upsetter Rich Strike did.
Un Ojo and Rattle N Roll are the leading earners in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby, with bankrolls of $782,571 and $605,105, respectively.
Having won the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) last year at Keeneland and the American Derby at Churchill Downs mere days ago July 2, Rattle N Roll is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a race that also includes King Ottoman, last-out winner of the Texas Derby, as well as several other up-and-comers.
"Rattle N Roll might be hard to beat three times in a week," joked Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, trainer of King Ottoman, in reference to Rattle N Roll winning the American Derby and being cross-entered in Saturday's Iowa Derby.
Kenny McPeek texted BloodHorse July 5 that Rattle N Roll would run in the Indiana Derby, not in Iowa.
Asked about the Connect colt's readiness for a week turnaround, the trainer forwarded a jogging video of the colt taken the day after the American Derby, showing no apparent fatigue after his two-length score at Churchill.
Video: American Derby (BT)
"We didn't work him going into the American Derby," McPeek previously informed track publicity. "We went into it off just gallops. The horse has been doing just fantastic. There are limited opportunities for a horse like him. We looked at the calendar and there isn't another race for him until maybe middle to late August.
"I know it's unconventional. I'm a little nervous about it. But we jogged him up and back Sunday morning after the race. He cleaned up (eating) by 8 o'clock the night after he ran. He cleaned up the next morning. He's never been better.
"We buy horses to race them. It could be exciting. We're going to look at the (past performances). Nothing is set until we ship him up there (from his Churchill base)."
Besides Rattle N Roll, several other Indiana Derby horses are cross-entered in other races, another in the Iowa Derby and two in an Indiana-bred stakes earlier on the Saturday card at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Un Ojo makes his first start for trainer Robertino Diodoro after being trained by Ricky Courville and during the winter by Tony Dutrow. Most recently, Un Ojo ran eighth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) after the one-eyed Laoban gelding had his rally compromised when he bounced off the rail on the second turn.
Eight stakes are part of the Saturday program at Horseshoe Indianapolis, with the top supporting events being the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) for 3-year-old fillies and the $100,000 Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes for older turf horses.
Horseshoe Indianapolis, Saturday, July 9, 2022, Race 12Entries: Indiana Derby (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Trademark (KY) Rafael Bejarano 118 Victoria H. Oliver 15/1 2 2First Glimpse (KY) Orlando Mojica 118 Carlos H. Silva 20/1 3 3Mowins (IN) Jon Kenton Court 120 Michael E. Lauer 15/1 4 4King Ottoman (KY) Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. 124 Steven M. Asmussen 5/1 5 5New Year's Fever (IN) Rodney A. Prescott 118 Brandi Steele 20/1 6 6Rattle N Roll (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 124 Kenneth G. McPeek 5/2 7 7Best Actor (KY) Florent Geroux 124 Brad H. Cox 4/1 8 8Actuator (KY) James Graham 118 Michael W. McCarthy 7/2 9 9Un Ojo (NY) David Cohen 124 Robertino Diodoro 6/1 10 10Fowler Blue (CA) Sonny Leon 118 Doug F. O'Neill 8/1
