Affirmed

Mercedes Stables LLC's INDIAN OCEAN (Stormy Atlantic) rated just behind the

front-running Dover Dere (Cherokee Run) for the first three calls of Saturday's

$102,998 Affirmed H. (G3) before taking over in the Hollywood stretch and

prevailing by a neck in a close finish. The Jay Robbins-trained sophomore

stopped the clock in 1:42 2/5 for the 1 1/16-mile fast track event under regular

rider Jon Court.

With Pat Valenzuela and Dover Dere setting splits of :23 1/5, :46 2/5 and

1:10 2/5 on the front end, Court and his mount sat chilly to their outside in

second, waiting on either post-time favorite Surf Cat (Sir Cat) or Santa Anita

Derby (G1) hero Buzzards Bay (Marco Bay) to make their move. Both of those

rivals were asked for their best leaving the turn, and Indian Ocean was

unleashed as well. The four Affirmed runners were four wide across the track,

separated by only a head, as they approached midstretch. Inside the final furlong, Kentucky Derby (G1) fifth-place

finisher Buzzards Bay came up empty, and Dover Dere began to weaken as well, leaving it all up

to Indian Ocean and Surf Cat. The former prevailed, albeit by a short neck, to

record his first stakes score from his first attempt.

The winner returned $12.40 and $3.80 at 5-1 and started $1 exotics of $13.20

(exacta) and $45.90 (trifecta), decent payouts for a four-horse field. Surf Cat

gave back $2.80 for the place, two lengths clear of Dover Dere. There was no

show wagering offered. Buzzards Bay rounded out the field and Khyber Pass

(Running Stag) and Sultry Band (Sultry Song) were both withdrawn.

Indian Ocean more than doubles his career earnings to $125,940 with his

Affirmed win, now showing a line of 4-3-0-1. The bay was bred in the Sunshine

State by George and Lee Ann Isaacs and is out of Indian Halo (Halo), making him

a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Megan's Halo (Jules), a full brother to

the unraced two-year-old filly Indian Moccasin, and a half-brother to a 2005

colt by Sunday Break (Jpn).