Irap dominates in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3)

Irap’s impressive 3-year-old resume gained another impressive highlight on Saturday night when the Tiznow colt stormed to a five-length victory in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3).

The Reddam Racing colt has now won $1,357,600, with victories in the Blue Grass S. (G2) and Ohio Derby (G3) also to his credit.
Irap had the inside post for Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile affair, but went about five-wide around the first turn. He maintained that spot well off the rail on the backstretch, but was going along comfortably about three lengths from the front.

The field started to bunch up on the turn, with Irap widest of four contesting the lead. The bay powered to the front with more than a quarter-mile to run and quickly opened up on the field and was all alone in the final furlong.

Irap completed the course in 1:42.21 on a fast track.

“I think you have to [take Irap seriously],” winning trainer Doug O’Neill said. “He’s getting better with each race. We’ve learned so much from him. We just couldn’t be more happy than we are now. And Mario rode just a perfect race. Just very, very happy.” 

As for what”s next for Irap, winning owner Paul Reddam said, “Hopefully it begins with a T [referring to the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 26]. We’ll take our shot at the big boys again.”

Irap is Tiznow’s leading earner of 2017, with his progeny having won more than $4.1 million to date this year. He is also the sire of the top-priced 2-year-old sold at auction this year, a $2.45 million colt at the OBS April Sale.

Pedigree Notes from the TDN: 

Irap is the last produce for the Quebec-bred Silken Cat, Canada’s Sovereign Award-winning juvenile filly of 1995, whose first foal, the meticulously managed Speightstown (Gone West), won the Eclipse Award as champion sprinter in 2004 and has since become a sire of considerable import for WinStar Farm. Speightstown is one of four of Silken Cat’s offspring to summon seven figures as a yearling, selling for $2 million at the 1999 Keeneland July sale.