Derby Trail Heats Up in Hot Springs
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The final weekend of high stakes Kentucky Derby prep races culminates in Hot Springs, Ark. on Saturday night when nine horses line up for the Arkansas Derby. Traditionally an important Kentucky Derby prep, the Arkansas Derby is scheduled to go off at 7:07 p.m. ET.
The Arkansas Derby is the third leg of Oaklawn Park’s 3-year-old Kentucky Derby prep series and is run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs). The first two legs are the Southwest and Rebel Stakes. Tapiture, who is the morning line favorite for the race comes into the Arkansas Derby after winning the Southwest Stakes and finishing second to Hoppertunity in the Rebel Stakes.
Smarty Jones (2004) and Sunny’s Halo (1983), both won the Kentucky Derby after winning the Arkansas Derby.
$1 Million Arkansas Derby
Saturday, Oaklawn Park, Race 11, Post time 7:07 p.m. ET
3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles on dirt
PP
Horse
Jockey
Weight
Trainer
Odds
1
Danza (KY)
Joe Bravo
118
Todd Pletcher
15/1
2
Knock Em Flat (KY)
Luis Quinonez
118
Donnie Von Hemel
20/1
3
Tapiture (KY)
Joel Rosario
122
Steve Asmussen
9/5
4
Ride On Curlin (KY)
Jon Court
118
William Gowan
12/1
5
Thundergram (FL)
Noberto Arroyo Jr.
118
Mark Casse
30/1
6
Commissioner (KY)
Mike Smith
118
Todd Pletcher
8/1
7
Conquest Titan (KY)
Calvin Borel
122
Mark Casse
10/1
8
Bayern (KY)
Gary Stevens
118
Bob Baffert
2/1
9
Strong Mandate (KY)
Luis Saez
122
D. Wayne Lukas
9/2