Oaklawn Park Splits Arkansas Derby Into Two Divisions
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Photo: Coady Photography
The Arkansas Derby trophy
Oaklawn Park will run two divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1) May 2, with each division awarding 170 points toward starting eligibility in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Oaklawn officials said last week they were looking for at least 22 horses to split the 1 1/8-mile feature for 3-year-olds into two divisions, and 22 were entered to create two 11-horse fields. Each division will carry a $500,000 purse and award Road to the Kentucky Derby series points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top four finishers.
The Arkansas Derby was originally scheduled for April 11 but was moved to May 2 after Churchill Downs announced the Kentucky Derby was postponed from May 2 to Sept. 5 due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Oaklawn is one of a handful of tracks running live racing without spectators.
"Because of our national crisis, we and the entire world of sports are in uncharted waters requiring unprecedented actions. We're trying to make the best of a very, very difficult situation," Oaklawn president Louis Cella said. "On the one hand, it is the worst of times to be racing without fans in our grandstand. On the other, we have a large number of exceptional 3-year-olds wanting to run in our Arkansas Derby. We simply did not want to see anyone lose that opportunity."
In 2019, Oaklawn split the Rebel Stakes (G2) into two $750,000 divisions due to a larger interest from connections in Southern California, where racing at Santa Anita Park was halted following a rash of equine fatalities. The original 85-point Rebel (50-20-10-5) became worth 63.75 points (37.5-15-7.5-3.75) in each division. Oaklawn also split the 2012 Southwest Stakes (G3) after 21 horses were entered. Both divisions carried the original purse of $250,000.
"While we are always respectful of the time-honored traditions of the Kentucky Derby, we're in the midst of an unprecedented year," Churchill Downs president Kevin Flanery said. "We recognize that there are numerous 3-year-olds currently in training with limited racing opportunities, and our prominent partner Oaklawn Park is in a unique and important position to immediately fill a void for horsemen. An extension of the Road to the Kentucky Derby will continue to evolve in the weeks ahead. Our Churchill Downs team is united in our commitment to holding the very best Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5, and it will certainly be one of the most memorable of our lifetimes."
Oaklawn announced March 20 that the original $1 million purse for the Arkansas Derby would be cut to $750,000 after the casino closed March 16 because of the coronavirus. Once the race was split, Oaklawn committed back to the $1 million—spread over the two divisions.
The first division of the Arkansas Derby, scheduled as Race 11 at 5:29 p.m. CT, features undefeated Charlatan, who needed a split race to draw in. If the Arkansas Derby had remained a single race, it would have been limited to 14 starters, and those with the most earnings would have drawn in first. Charlatan, who won a maiden special weight and an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita by a combined 16 lengths, only has $67,200 in earnings from his two starts.
Charlatan scores on debut at Santa Anita Park
The first division also includes Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner and Rebel Stakes third Basin, as well as grade 1-placed colts Gouverneur Morris and Anneau d'Or. Charlatan drew the rail, and Basin will break from the outside.
The second division, which will go off as Race 13 at 6:43 p.m., includes champion 2-year-old male Storm the Court, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner King Guillermo, Rebel winner Nadal, Southwest winner Silver Prospector, Oaklawn Stakes runner-up Farmington Road, and, on the outside, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Wells Bayou.
Fourteen races have been carded for Arkansas Derby Day, which has a first post time of noon. The $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) is on the undercard as Race 12 at 6:04 p.m. The 1 1/8-mile race for 4-year-olds and up drew 14 entries, including Mr Freeze, Warrior's Charge, Combatant, Tacitus, By My Standards, and Improbable.
The entire card will be broadcast on FoxSports1 and TVG. Part of the card, including the stakes races, will be shown on NBC Sports from the TVG feed. May 2 is the closing day of Oaklawn's 2020 meet.
"We are not alone in our suffering," Cella said. "All of America is hurting. By maintaining some semblance of a racing program, at least we've been able to help horse owners, their employees, trainers, and jockeys while providing sport for racing fans across the country to enjoy."
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, May 02, 2020, Race 11Entries: Arkansas Derby (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Charlatan (KY)
Martin Garcia
118
Bob Baffert
1/1
2
2My Friends Beer (MD)
Declan Cannon
118
Jeremiah O'Dwyer
20/1
3
3Mo Mosa (KY)
Kendrick Carmouche
118
Michael J. Maker
30/1
4
4Gouverneur Morris (KY)
John R. Velazquez
118
Todd A. Pletcher
9/2
5
5Jungle Runner (KY)
Tyler Baze
122
Steven M. Asmussen
30/1
6
6Shooters Shoot (KY)
Joseph Talamo
118
Peter Eurton
8/1
7
7Wrecking Crew (KY)
Flavien Prat
118
Peter Miller
20/1
8
8Anneau d'Or (KY)
Juan J. Hernandez
118
Blaine D. Wright
6/1
9
9Winning Impression (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
118
Dallas Stewart
15/1
10
10Crypto Cash (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
118
Kenneth G. McPeek
20/1
11
11Basin (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
122
Steven M. Asmussen
8/1
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, May 02, 2020, Race 12Entries: Oaklawn H. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Chess Chief (VA)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
114
Dallas Stewart
30/1
2
2Trophy Chaser (KY)
Samy Camacho
115
Juan Carlos Avila
12/1
3
3Bravazo (KY)
Miguel Mena
115
D. Wayne Lukas
30/1
4
4Mr Freeze (KY)
Joseph Talamo
118
Dale L. Romans
6/1
5
5Identifier (KY)
Stewart Elliott
116
Oscar M. Gonzalez
20/1
6
6Warrior's Charge (FL)
Florent Geroux
118
Brad H. Cox
8/1
7
7Combatant (KY)
Joel Rosario
120
John W. Sadler
4/1
8
8Sky Promise (KY)
Orlando Mojica
114
Robertino Diodoro
20/1
9
9Tacitus (KY)
John R. Velazquez
121
William I. Mott
9/2
10
10Captivating Moon (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
113
Chris M. Block
20/1
11
11Tax (KY)
Kendrick Carmouche
117
Danny Gargan
15/1
12
12By My Standards (KY)
Gabriel Saez
118
W. Bret Calhoun
9/2
13
13Night Ops (KY)
Javier Castellano
116
Brad H. Cox
15/1
14
14Improbable (KY)
Martin Garcia
119
Bob Baffert
8/1
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, May 02, 2020, Race 13Entries: Arkansas Derby (G1)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Finnick the Fierce (KY)
Martin Garcia
118
Rey Hernandez
15/1
2
2Saratogian (KY)
Joseph Talamo
118
Rodolphe Brisset
50/1
3
3Storm the Court (KY)
Flavien Prat
122
Peter Eurton
6/1
4
4King Guillermo (KY)
Samy Camacho
122
Juan Carlos Avila
3/1
5
5Nadal (KY)
Joel Rosario
122
Bob Baffert
5/2
6
6Code Runner (KY)
Stewart Elliott
118
Steven M. Asmussen
50/1
7
7Silver Prospector (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
122
Steven M. Asmussen
10/1
8
8Fast Enough (KY)
Tyler Baze
122
Rafael Becerra
12/1
9
9Taishan (KY)
David Cohen
118
Richard Baltas
15/1
10
10Farmington Road (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
Todd A. Pletcher
12/1
11
11Wells Bayou (KY)
Florent Geroux
122
Brad H. Cox
7/2