Cupid hits his mark in Indiana Derby

After two disappointing finishes in his previous two races, and a minor surgical procedure, Cupid, trained by Bob Baffert, returned to win the 2016 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand

Breaking from post position 11 in the field of 12, backers had every right to believe that the odds were against them as historically in 1 1/16 mile dirt races at Indiana, post positions 9-12 have not produced many winners. In fact, only eight winners from 138 starts have successfully reached the winners circle from outside post 9 since 2010.

Considering the stats and remembering his past two performances, I watched as Cupid broke under jockey Rafael Bejarano and was sent to get position going into the first turn. As he stalked Pilot House who lead through the first quarter in :23.46 down the backside, I was fully expecting to see Cupid to start backing up from the pressure. Not because they were going to fast or anything — they got the 1/2 in 46.75 — but because the facts don’t lie. And the fact that there had only been 8 winners from the “parking lot” since 2010 makes it that much harder to believe he could do it.

But, it is Baffert. And he did give his trainer his sixth Rebel win only a few months ago. And now he’s given Baffert his fourth Indiana Derby win, joining Misremembered (2009), Lookin At Lucky (2010), and Power Broker (2013).

By the time they hit the far turn Bejarano let out a notch and I realized just how much horse he had left as the replay shows him sitting still and Cupid tugging to go on to get 3/4’s in 1:10.86 with Pilot House and Cocked and Loaded throwing in the towel.

At the top of the stretch it was just a matter of keeping Cupid aimed at the finish line as The Player had moved into second and gaining. The two reached the 1/8 pole in a slow 1:36.55 and it was apparent that Cupid may not have had much more to give as he never switched leads from the top of the stretch to the wire and narrowly held on for the win in a final time of 1:43.30.

Star Hill, who broke from post 12, rallied from far back into third. Whateverybodywants finished fourth, and Cherry Wine, who was favorite in the morning line but was the second choice at post time, raced last early and finished ninth.