Neck 'n Neck rebounded sharply from a sub-par effort in the Travers Stakes to win the $500,000 Indiana Derby (gr. II) this afternoon at Hoosier Park in late-running fashion.
Ridden to victory by Brian Hernandez, who won the Indiana Oaks (gr. III) earlier on the card, Neck 'n Neck did not get off to a particularly quick start and soon found himself in tenth place, ahead of only Stealcase as Fed Biz and Junebugred dueled through fractions of :23.60 and :48.32 seconds. Tritap, Second City, Morgan's Guerrilla, and O'Prado Again were also quite close to the pace, while Bourbon Courage, Afford, Easter Gift were toward the rear of the field.
Following three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.70 seconds, Fed Biz left Junebugred behind and briefly opened up a moderate advantage, but Neck 'n Neck was rallying strongly on the far outside, and the son of Flower Alley soon took over the advantage and went on to win by a length in 1:42.71.
Bourbon Courage also rallied well to finish second by a head over Fed Biz, while Morgan's Guerrilla rounded out the superfecta. Afford finished fifth after briefly looming a serious threat at odds of 134-1. Tritap, O'Prado Again, Easter Gift, Junebugred, Second City, and Stealcase completed the order of finish.
The winner is owned by Steven Miles Jr. and trained by Ian Wilkes.
-Keelerman
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