2 Guys and a Crown: Arkansas Derby
Description:
Bram Weinstein and Joe Kristufek return in 2016 to take fans step by step down the Triple Crown trail. The focus for this edition is Saturday’s Grade 1, $1-million Arkansas Derby in which the winner earns 100 points toward a potential berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.
Run at nine furlongs at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., the $1-million Arkansas Derby (Grade 1) is the last 100-40-20-10 points race on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Horses to score the Arkansas Derby/Kentucky Derby double include Sunny's Halo (1983), Smarty Jones (2004) and American Pharoah (2015).
Bob Baffert (2015, American Pharoah and 2012, Bodemeister) and Todd Pletcher (2014, Danza and 2013, Overanalyze) have each won two of the last four editions of the Arkansas Derby. Pletcher also won in 2000 with Graeme Hall and 2001 with Balto Star. This year, Baffert is represented by the favored Cupid while Pletcher saddles an outsider in Gettysburg.
Four of the last 10 Rebel winners have gone on to take the Arkansas Derby, with invaders from Santa Anita, Gulfstream, Aqueduct and Fair Grounds winning the other six.
Seven Rebel participants are entered back in the Arkansas Derby, including the top three finishers – Cupid, Whitmore and Creator.
In what has developed into a points free-for-all, Suddenbreakingnews (10 points currently) needs to run at least second in Saturday's Arkansas Derby to get into the Kentucky Derby, while Whitmore (24) can cross the line no worse than third. Dazzling Gem, who has 20 points, is also in the hunt and a surprise first or second would shake things up even more.
By virtue of his Rebel win, Cupid, who has 50 points, will safely make the Kentucky Derby cut regardless of Saturday's result.
Joe's Arkansas Derby Picks
#5 American Pioneer
#10 Cupid
#8 Whitmore
#4 Suddenbreakingnews
Joe's Arkansas Derby Bets
$2 exacta box 4, 5, 8, 10 = $24
$6 win #5 American Pioneer
Bram's Arkansas Derby Picks
#10 Cupid
#4 Suddenbreakingnews
#12 Gettysburg
#5 American Pioneer
Bram's Arkansas Derby Bets
$2 exacta box 4, 5, 10, 12 = $24
Joe's Kentucky Derby Top 201. Exaggerator2. Destin3. Nyquist4. Mohaymen5. Cupid6. Mor Spirit7. Outwork8. Brody's Cause9. Danzing Candy10. Mo Tom11. Gun Runner12. Whitmore13. Suddenbreakingnews14. My Man Sam15. Lani16. Shagaf17. Tom's Ready18. Majesto19. Trojan Nation20. Oscar Nominated
$1-million Arkansas DerbySaturday, April 16, Oaklawn Park, Race 11, 7:18 p.m. ET1 1/8 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner(s)
Odds
1
Discreetness
Jon Court
Jinks Fires
Xpress Thoroughbreds
20-1
2
Cutacorner
Alex Birzer
Jack Van Berg
Kay Stillman
50-1
3
Creator
Ricardo Santana Jr.
Steve Asmussen
WinStar Farm
10-1
4
Suddenbreakingnews
Luis Quinonez
Donnie Von Hemel
Samuel F. Henderson
5-1
5
American Pioneer
Rafael Bejarano
Wayne Catalano
Gary and Mary West
8-1
6
Unbridled Outlaw
Corey Lanerie
Dale Romans
Albaugh Family Stables
10-1
7
Dazzling Gem
Joseph Talamo
Brad Cox
Steve Landers Racing
12-1
8
Whitmore
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Ron Moquett
Robert LaPenta, Harry Rosenblum and Southern Springs Stables
9-2
9
Luna de Loco
Joe Bravo
Steve Asmussen
Calumet Farm
30-1
10
Cupid
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith
2-1
11
Gray Sky
Ramon Vazquez
D. Wayne Lukas
Robert C. Baker & William L. Mack
30-1
12
Gettysburg
John Velazquez
Todd Pletcher
WinStar Farm
6-1