Creator Soars Home to Win Arkansas Derby

A gray son of Tapit   romped home to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 16 at Oaklawn Park, but it wasn't the one many expected. 

Unlike the March 19 Rebel (gr. II), when Cupid gamely scored on the front end at the Arkansas oval, this time it was WinStar Farm's Creator who stormed from last to win the final prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Last of 12 in the backstretch, as many as 15 1/4 lengths behind under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.—as Gettysburg set fractions of :22.81, :46.33, and 1:10.61, with Cupid stalking in second—Creator wound up much the best Saturday, finishing 1 1/4 lengths clear of fellow closer Suddenbreakingnews. Whitmore checked in third, another 1 1/2 lengths behind. The final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.14. The victory was Santana's first Arkansas Derby win.

"He made a nice run in the end," Santana said of Creator's move, three wide between horses in the final turn. "Last time it was 14 horses. Today it was 12 horses. (Trainer) Steve (Asmussen) told me to be patient, be patient, because you're going to have a lot of horse. It worked out—worked out really good. I hope I have the same trip in the Kentucky Derby."

Off at odds of 11-1, Creator—who also rallied from last to finish third in the Rebel—paid $25.20, $8.60, and $5 across the board. Suddenbreakingnews brought $6 and $4 to place, and Whitmore brought $3.80 to show.

"Ricardo has a ton of confidence in the horse and I'm glad to see him rewarded for how much he believed in the horse. ... His race in the Rebel was good and we felt like he came out of it good." said Asmussen, who collected his third Arkansas Derby win. "He had a little break and came out for the Arkansas Derby training great. I am very proud of the outcome today."

WinStar chief executive officer Elliott Walden said Creator is the first horse his Lexington-based operation has sent to Asmussen.

"Steve has had a lot of confidence in this horse from the start," Walden said. "He's been a very high-strung horse in the beginning. I liked what Steve had done with some of the Tapits he's had in the past, so that's why we sent Creator to him. ... I love his style. I love the way he's been brought along. I think based on today's performance that he would have a very good (Kentucky Derby) chance."

Cupid, heavily favored at 4-5, appeared to be in trouble when jockey Martin Garcia went to the whip in the final turn and tired to finish 10th, 11 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Dazzling Gem closed to pick up fourth, followed by Gettysburg, Discreetness, Cutacorner, Gray Sky, American Pioneer, Cupid, and Unbridled Outlaw, to complete the order of finish. Luna de Loco did not finish.

"We were done early, basically," said Jimmy Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, who conditions Cupid. "I think the fractions probably took a toll on us, but that's racing. I know Martin wanted to get him in the clear, which he did. But unfortunately he got in the clear and they were rolling right along."

Baffert said Cupid will continue on to Churchill Downs, as was planned before the Arkansas Derby. There, the trainer said, he will "wait and see" whether to run Cupid, who ranks 13th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, in the classic.

From a pedigree standpoint, Creator fears no distance. His dam, the Peruvian-bred Privately Held mare Morena, was a graded winner going 1 1/2 miles in Peru and finished third in the 2009 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) going 1 1/4 miles.

Creator is the only of her four offspring to race so far. She has a 2-year-old colt by Lemon Drop Kid   and a Street Cry yearling, and was bred to Tiznow   for 2016.