Indiana Derby: Fulsome Streaks Into Town

SHELBYVILLE, IN – Juddmonte Farms homebred Fulsome streaks into town looking to win his fourth straight event – and third at the stakes level – in Wednesday’s $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) at Indiana Grand.

The Indiana Derby is a 1 1/16-mile dirt route restricted to 3-year-olds. This year’s edition is the finale on a 12-race card and has a local post time of 8:25 PM Eastern.

Here’s a look at the full field for the Indiana Derby:

1. Fulsome 4/5 – The heavy favorite drew the rail as he attempts to keep his dirt record unbeaten in his fourth try over the surface following successes at Keeneland, Oaklawn Park, and Churchill Downs. That most recent victory came in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) and garnered him a field-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure. Trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux won last year’s running.

2. W W Crazy 30/1 – He broke his maiden at fourth asking in a 1-mile route over the sloppy (sealed) local main track last time out but only earned a 71 Beyer for his efforts. The Florida-bred gelding finished second 2 starts back while earning a career-high 79 Beyer behind a horse who repeated next time out and earned an 86 Beyer, but he’ll need to take a step forward in his first test versus winners.

3. Starrininmydreams 6/1 – He returns to action after most recently finishing seventh in the Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) on May 1 in his fourth straight graded stakes attempt. He kicked off his career winning both starts as a juvenile, including an allowance going this distance at Churcihll Downs, but only hit the board once in 4 starts this season, finishing third in the Lexington Stakes (G3).

4. Convention 15/1 – He makes his graded stakes debut despite finishing fifth in a pair of ungraded stakes in his previous 2 starts, the Oaklawn Stakes and the Prairie Mile Stakes. He adds blinkers for the first time, a 14% winning move for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen who won this race in 2007 and 2011, and jockey Francisco Arrieta has won 8 of his past 32 shared mounts for the barn.

5. Sermononthemount 10/1 – He gives stakes action a fourth try after finishing third, a career-best at this level, last time out in the Prairie Mile. Trainer Tom Amoss claimed him for $50k 4 starts back and saddled him to victory 2 starts later while risked for a $30k tag. James Graham, aboard for that aforementioned win, retains the mount and connects at 24% with Amoss since 2020.

6. Full Charge 12/1 – Like W W Crazy, he too steps up to the stakes ranks after breaking his maiden at fourth asking, with his success coming in a 1 3/16-mile Churchill Downs fast dirt route. The Jack Sisterson trainee earned an 80 Beyer for his victory and Adam Beschizza rides for the fourth straight start. Sisterson and Beschizza have hit at 18% with a $2.31 ROI in their past 49 races together.

7. Mr. Wireless 5/2 – He nearly won his third straight last time out, rallying from mid-pack and missing by 3/4 of a length in the 1 1/16-mile Texas Derby over a sloppy (sealed) track. His 2 prior wins came routing on fast dirt and jockey Ramon Vasquez, who wins 23% with a remarkable $3.27 ROI for trainer Bret Calhoun, traveled to Indiana for the mount. He and Fulsome carry high weight of 124 pounds.