Nominations out for Indiana Derby Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis

A total of eight premier races led by the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks will be showcased during Indiana Derby Day on  July 5 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Nominations are now out for all races with the Indiana Derby attracting 33 three-year-olds while the Indiana Oaks, presented by Daily Racing Form, captured 27 nods from three-year-old fillies.

Included on the list of Derby hopefuls are six horses who competed in this year’s Triple Crown races.

“Both the Indiana Derby and Indiana Oaks are shaping up to be a couple of nice races during our event,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “Each year, we get some strong nominations on the list, and we are anticipating another great day of racing. The all-sources handle has been broken the past four years on this day, and when you look at the nomination lists for all our top races that day, it’s very encouraging for this year’s event, also.”

One horse that is pointing toward the Indiana Derby for his next race is Instant Replay from the Brad Cox barn. The Maximum Security colt, owned by Mary and Gary West, comes to Indiana off a win in the Texas Derby. He has won three of four this season and finished third earlier in the year in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

Cox has won the Indiana Derby the past two years with Verifying in 2023 and last year’s winner Dragoon Guard (main photo).

Another horse that has Indiana ties is Chunk of Gold from the Ethan West barn. West, who has stabled in Indiana in past years, just finished second in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby Saturday with Chunk of Gold, a son of Preservationist.

Terry Stephens owns the grey colt, who has finished second four times in five starts for 2025, racing in Graded Stakes action.

Coal Battle, who garnered a lot of attention heading into this year’s Kentucky Derby, is also on the list. The Coal Front colt is trained by 72-year-old Lonnie Briley of Louisiana and won the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes this spring enroute to the Kentucky Derby. He finished third in his last start at Churchill Downs in the Grade 3 Matt Winn.

Trainer Brad Cox also has several nominated to the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks, including Breeders Cup Juvenile Winner Immersive for Godolphin LLC.

The daughter of Nyquist returned for her three-year-old debut in mid-June, a second place finish in the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs. She completed her four-year-old season last year a perfect four for four and has more than $1.6 million on her card.

The Indiana Derby and Indiana Oaks will be complemented by several other premier races, including the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial (Listed), the Mari Hulman George Memorial (Black Type), the Indiana General Assembly (Black Type) and the Jonathan Schuster Memorial (Listed).

Racing gets underway with a first post at noon surrounded by trackside activities, including a cigar rolling station to the first 600 21-and-over, a $2,500 Derby Legends Handicapping Contest, presented by Indiana HBPA, and a $1,000 Derby Hat Contest, presented by ITOBA.

More information is available on social media @HSIndyRacing or by visiting the website at www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing/racing-promotions.

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