The excitement at Horseshoe Indianapolis over the Indiana Derby Weekend is reaching a fever pitch as top contenders prepare to face off in a series of thrilling horse racing events. The weekend kicked off with the National Horseplayer Championship (NHC) Qualifiers on Friday, July 4, drawing a record crowd of 166 entries and 84 individuals competing fiercely for three coveted NHC seats and a total of $3,500 in cash prizes. Joseph Carnavale of Franklin, Tennessee, emerged as the standout player, clinching the top spot with a late Daily Double that not only secured his first NHC seat of 2025 but also earned him $2,000 in prize money.
Carnavale, making his second appearance at the Indiana Derby Weekend qualifier after competing last season, expressed his enthusiasm: "Last year I played in the Friday session and didn’t play Saturday, so this year, I came up for the weekend and will play in both sessions. We enjoyed it so much we decided to come back." Joining him in the NHC Finals in Las Vegas next March are Pat Cronin, a seasoned qualifier from Maine who claimed second place and $1,000, and Louisville’s Doug Bredar, who rounded out the top three with a $500 prize. Bredar’s late surge was fueled by a Daily Double in the final race, a move he credited for pushing him into the qualifying spots. The NHC Qualifier action continues on Saturday, July 5, with four more seats up for grabs during the Indiana Derby Day, featuring all 13 races including the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks.
Meanwhile, on the turf course, Coppola delivered a breathtaking performance in the fifth running of the $100,000 William Garrett Handicap on Friday. The 6-year-old colt, owned by Hammer Time Stable and Sport of Kings Racing Partners and trained by Dale Romans, set a new turf course record with a blazing time of :54.39 over five furlongs, surpassing the previous record set by Oxford Comma in 2018. Jockey Vincent Cheminaud expertly guided Coppola to a two-length victory over local favorite Charcoal, who finished second, and Bear River in third.
Cheminaud praised the horse’s form and the track conditions, saying, "The track was perfect for him today. I had only one goal and that was to take him to the lead. He was very easy on the bit, and I was confident coming into the race. The track was very fast today but this horse deserves it (track record)." Coppola’s win marked his 11th career victory from 33 starts and moved him closer to the $1 million earnings milestone. Notably, Coppola has now won the Garrett Handicap on both turf and dirt surfaces, a testament to his versatility. Trainer Dale Romans, speaking from Saratoga, highlighted Coppola’s adaptability and endurance: "He likes it there and defended his title. Being off the turf last year shows he can do either or. On a nice firm turf course like that, he runs big. That was a fast race, he ran fast, he ran big. We take him one race at a time, but he keeps grinding it out." Local trainer Tracey Wisner also lauded her 9-year-old gelding Charcoal for his consistent performances, noting his dedication and mental toughness.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s headline event, the $300,000 Grade 3 Indiana Derby, the field showcases a fascinating mix of pedigree, price tags, and potential. The entries highlight horse racing’s unpredictable nature, where the cost of a horse often takes a backseat to raw speed and heart once the gates open. Publisher, an Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up and the most expensive yearling in the field at $600,000, will be tested over the 1 1/16-mile distance. Bred, raised, and sold by the late Brereton C. Jones’s Airdrie Stud, Publisher is a son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and has earned $407,756 despite yet to notch a win, a situation his connections view as temporary.
Bret Jones, who now leads Airdrie Stud, expressed optimism about Publisher’s future: "Hopefully that’s a momentary condition. He’s obviously a very talented horse, and Steve and his team thought enough of him to take a shot in the Derby. It wasn’t his day, but hopefully he’s got some fun Saturdays ahead. The first three home in the Derby are exceptional. No amount of racing luck was going to make up the distance to them. We’re following Steve’s lead. The colt seems to have come back well, and we’ll find out exactly where we stand July 5… There’s an unbelievably long list of poor Derby finishers who came back to be top horses. Somebody’s going to do it, and I sure hope it’s us." Publisher is the 4-1 fourth choice in the morning line, while Coal Battle, the 7-2 favorite, boasts five wins and $1.2 million in earnings from a modest $70,000 Texas yearling purchase. Other notable entrants include Big Truzz, a $300,000 son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify; Brotha Keny, undefeated at Horseshoe Indy and purchased for $25,000; and Tip Top Thomas, a $160,000 New York allowance winner trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who is seeking his first Indiana Derby victory. Pletcher’s charge will be ridden by John Velazquez, who is flying in from Saratoga to take the mount.
One of the more compelling stories is that of Master Controller, a $75,000 Tapiture colt who overcame early career setbacks to win a $100,000 maiden-claiming race at Churchill Downs on May 24. Trainer Brittany Vanden Berg and rider Chris Emigh, who is also her husband, have high hopes for the colt’s front-running style and impressive stride length, which measures nearly 26 feet. Vanden Berg shared, "He’s probably going to be a front-running style horse. He snaps out of the gate really good, and he’s probably going to always want to be forwardly placed. He’s going to be a good price. But you know what, if I didn’t have any faith in him, I wouldn’t have put him in there. We’re not the kind of people to enter a horse we don’t think has any shot." Master Controller’s owners, AJMac and Family Thoroughbreds, race in honor of their late son Austin 'Mac' McEwen, who tragically died in a tornado in 2021. Their story adds a poignant layer to the competition, embodying the resilience and passion that define the sport.
As the Indiana Derby Weekend unfolds, fans can anticipate a showcase of speed, strategy, and heart, with narratives ranging from record-breaking turf performances to heartfelt tributes and underdog stories. The blend of elite competition and personal journeys makes this weekend a highlight on the racing calendar, promising unforgettable moments at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
