Arkansas Derby Divisions Scratch Down to Fields of Nine

The two divisions of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park continue to lose starters. Originally drawn with 11 horses apiece, they have nine-horse fields as of April 30.

The connections of four horses—Shooters Shoot and Wrecking Crew (first division) and Saratogian and Fast Enough (second division)—have informed the Oaklawn racing department they will be scratched. According to a news release issued by Oaklawn Park publicity, official scratch cards for Shooters Shoot and Wrecking Crew had already been submitted. Cards for Saratogian and Fast Enough are expected to be submitted Friday.

This week, the trainers of Shooters Shoot and Fast Enough said their horses would not run because of physical setbacks, Shooters Shoot due to a fever and Fast Enough from a splint injury.

The Rodolphe Brisset-trained Saratogian has many of the same owners as the Bob Baffert-trained Charlatan, the favorite in the first division. Saratogian was assigned the highest morning-line odds of either division at 50-1.

If the race had not been split, some horses with modest earnings, potentially the lightly raced Charlatan, could have been excluded from an oversubscribed field limited to 14.

Charlatan, with Martin Garcia to ride, is even money on the morning line, followed by Gouverneur Morris at 9-2 and Anneau d'Or at 6-1. 

Another Baffert trainee, Nadal, is the 5-2 favorite under Joel Rosario in the second division, which drew the more accomplished field. King Guillermo is the second choice at 3-1, and Wells Bayou is the third choice at 7-2.