Alabaster Up For Indiana Derby

Time/Date - 21.41hrs local time/Saturday, July 18, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Indiana Grand/USA
Surface/Distance - Dirt/1m 110y

Alabaster bids for glory in the US$500,000 Grade Two Indiana Derby over an extended mile on dirt at Indiana Grand Racecourse, USA, on Saturday evening, July 18.

The three-year-old colt, trained by Eoin Harty, battled away to finish fourth in the Grade Three Iowa Derby over the same distance on dirt at Prairie Downs on June 28.

He kept on to finish fourth over the same distance in an allowance optional claimer on turf at Arlington Park on June 6.

Alabaster made five appearances on dirt at Tampa Bay Downs over the winter, readily taking an allowance optional claimer, also over an extended mile on March 27 and scoring in a mile maiden on January 31.

Julio Felix, who rode Alabaster in the Iowa Derby, partners the son of Medaglia d'Oro again.

Eoin Harty commented: "Alabaster is a very tough and consistent colt, who is getting better with every race.

"This looks a race that is filled with speed and it should set up for Alabaster - he doesn't have a lot of early speed but should be able to sit in behind the leaders and run them down late.

"I am very, very happy with him and think that he is a very nice colt."

Alabaster opposes seven rivals headed by Divining Rod and Mr Z, who were third and fifth in the Grade One Preakness Stakes.