Indiana Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of nine will come together on Saturday for the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G2) at Hoosier

Park. It will be a rematch of the West Virginia Derby (G3) and Pennsylvania Derby (G2) for some, but it's a West Coast shipper that should be getting attention. MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean)

was successful in the handicap ranks back in his homeland and flourished when he arrived in the United States by winning the La Jolla H. (G2) and Del Mar Derby (G2) in August and September, respectively. For the latter, he garnered a 100 BRIS Speed

rating and 102 BRIS Late Pace rating after coming from midpack to come away with

the victory over the turf. The only question is whether or not the Darrell

Vienna trainee will be able to handle the dirt.

ZANJERO (Cherokee Run) will be shipping in from his home base at Churchill Downs, where he sped four furlongs in :47 1/5 on Tuesday in his final workout before

the race. Third in the Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day after being caught in traffic, the Steve Asmussen-conditioned colt was victorious the prior month in the West Virginia Derby. A good closing kick should ensure a

top-three finish.

BWANA BULL (Holy Bull) just missed in the West Virginia Derby, beaten a nose by Zanjero,

but was no factor in the Pennsylvania Derby. Look for an improved effort from the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee

here.

SQUEAKY RICH (Evansville Slew) dominated his allowance foes by 13 1/2 lengths here

last time out, earning a 102 Late Pace rating. It was his third consecutive victory, and we wouldn't be surprised to see him

post an upset. LONGLEY (Seeking the Gold) reeled off three straight wins over

the spring, culminating in an impressive score against stakes company at Delaware Park,

but has been well beaten in his past two. He was fourth in the Barbaro S. (G3) in July and was no factor in the King's Bishop

S. (G1). The field isn't as difficult here, and he could make his way into the money.

SLEW'S TIZZY (Tiznow) was no factor in the West Virginia Derby and flattened out in the Penn Derby

when finishing fourth. His wins have come over the Polytrack and in the Lone Star Derby (G3) over sloppy going. Unless it rains, keep him at the bottom of the exotics. SEDGEFIELD

(Smart Strike) hasn't raced since the Kentucky Derby (G1), where he finished fifth. He's a talented horse, but we'll give him a race after the five-month layoff.

STONEHOUSE (Chester House) has been sporadic when facing Illinois-breds, and we don't envision him doing much here. FLASHSTORM

(Storm Cat) seems to have regressed since his runner-up effort in the Iowa Derby

in June.