Study Guide: 2025 Indiana Derby

Jul 02, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Chunk of Gold wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Did you know three of the nine horses entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) at Horseshoe Indianapolis contested the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1)?

The Indiana Derby typically draws a quality field, but this year’s edition is especially strong. Let’s take a horse-by-horse tour through the entries:

Publisher

Publisher gets a work in a Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 8
Wins: 0
Place: 2
Show: 3

Owner: Gus King and Estate of Brereton C. Jones
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Mike Smith

Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $407,756

Sire: American Pharoah
Dam: Indian Pride
Color: Bay

A pace meltdown helped Publisher rally to finish second in the Arkansas Derby (G1), after which he ran 14th in the Kentucky Derby. A fast pace in the Indiana Derby could help Publisher rebound, but looking at the composition of the field, a destructive tempo doesn’t appear likely.

Master Controller

Master Controller wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: AJMAC and Family Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Doug Branham and Felicia Branham
Trainer: Brittany Vanden Berg
Jockey: Christopher Emigh

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning a $100,000 maiden claimer at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $46,974

Sire: Tapiture
Dam: Key Is to Win
Color: Bay

After failing to factor in three starts as a juvenile, Master Controller improved when dropping in class for his 2025 debut, leading all the way to win a 6 1/2-furlong $100,000 maiden claimer. He’s progressing in the right direction, but stepping up sharply in class and distance for the Indiana Derby won’t be easy.

Coal Battle

Start(s): 10
Wins: 5
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Norman Stables
Breeder: Hume Wornall and Jay Adcock
Trainer: Lonnie Briley
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $1,228,875

Sire: Coal Front
Dam: Wolfblade
Color: Dark bay/brown

Rebel (G2) winner Coal Battle finished 11th in the Kentucky Derby, possibly tripped up by the 1 1/4-mile distance. He bounced back to finish third by 1 1/4 lengths in a deep edition of the 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn (G3), earning a sharp 95 Brisnet Speed rating. Coal Battle is a logical win threat while sticking to 1 1/16 miles in the Indiana Derby.

Shan

Shan wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 12
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 2

Owner: Steve Moger
Breeder: Heiligbrodt Racing Stable
Trainer: Ed Moger Jr.
Jockey: Evin Roman

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing second in a $50,000 claimer at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $114,155

Sire: Shancelot
Dam: Kada
Color: Bay

Shan is stepping up in class and distance after finishing second in back-to-back $50,000 claimers sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs. He’ll need a step forward to challenge in the Indiana Derby.

Chunk of Gold

Chunk of Gold wins at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 4
Show: 0

Owner: Terry L. Stephens
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Ethan West
Jockey: Jareth Loveberry

Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $448,818

Sire: Preservationist
Dam: Play for Gold
Color: Gray/roan

Kentucky Derby ninth-place finisher Chunk of Gold has finished second in the Louisiana Derby (G2), Risen Star (G2), Ohio Derby (G3), and Leonatus S., so he’s a good fit for the Indiana Derby class level. However, his tendency to settle for second place is a bit concerning. Perhaps the addition of blinkers will sharpen his focus and push him into win contention.

Tip Top Thomas

Tip Top Thomas wins at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photography)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister
Breeder: Wynnstay, Donna Moore, and Jim Richardson
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $209,100

Sire: Volatile
Dam: Attempt to Name
Color: Chestnut

Runner-up in the 2024 Champagne (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Tip Top Thomas recently bounced back to peak form with a gate-to-wire win in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Aqueduct. He finished fast in that race, running his final quarter-mile in :23.96, and he may prove tough to catch while rejoining the stakes ranks.

Big Truzz

Big Truzz wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Flying Dutchman Breeding and Racing
Breeder: Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt & Kaleen Shah
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Declan Cannon

Top Speed Rating: (100) when finishing second in a $125,000 allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $148,485

Sire: Justify
Dam: Saralin
Color: Dark bay/brown

Big Truzz has shown talent sprinting, most notably finishing third in the Woody Stephens (G1) at Saratoga. But as a son of Triple Crown winner Justify out of a mare by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, he’s bred to relish stretching out over 1 1/16 miles. Don’t be surprised if Big Truzz outruns his odds in the Indiana Derby.

Brotha Keny

Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Lance Kinross and Steve Kinross
Breeder: Terrazas Thoroughbreds
Trainer: William Morey
Jockey: Joseph Ramos

Top Speed Rating: (82) when winning a $25,000 allowance optional claimer at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Total Earnings: $60,850

Sire: Mo Town
Dam: Raramuri Princess
Color: Dark bay/brown

Brotha Keny is 2-for-2 at Horseshoe Indianapolis, winning a maiden special weight and a $25,000 allowance optional claimer this year. But his career-best 82 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against Saturday’s field.

Instant Replay

Instant replay wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 8
Wins: 4
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Mary and Gary West
Breeder: Gary and Mary West Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luan Machado

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Texas Derby at Lone Star Park.
Total Earnings: $479,858

Sire: Maximum Security
Dam: Academy Gal
Color: Bay

Since finishing third (half a length behind Chunk of Gold) in the Louisiana Derby, Instant Replay has rallied to win the Bath House Row S. and Texas Derby in succession. The latter victory yielded a career-best 99 Brisnet Speed rating, so this improving colt has a big chance to factor for three-time Indiana Derby-winning trainer Brad Cox.

It was a field of 10 for the $300,000 Texas Derby, going 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track. The 3/5 wagering favorite, Instant Replay, got up in time for the big win.

J: Luis Saez
T: Brad Cox
O: Brad Cox pic.twitter.com/iTvrLseKnH

— Lone Star Park (@lonestarpark) May 27, 2025