Arkansas Derby Preview
Derby Prep Race - Keeneland
Grade I, 1 1/8 miles
$750,000 Purse
Unbeaten Curlin was assigned post position two in a field of ten for Saturday’s $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, and is the 7-5 morning line favorite. Jockey Robby Albarado is on board again as Curlin looks to remain one of the Kentucky Derby favorites with a win today.
Curlin won the $300,000 Rebel Stakes by five and a quarter lengths at Oaklawn in his last race. Curlin won his seven-furlong debut by nearly 13 lengths on Feb. 3th at Gulfstream Park. He was sold for a reported
$3.5 million to his present owners after that race and is now trained by Steve Asmussen, who currently leads both the Oaklawn standings in races won by a trainer.
Officer Rocket, trained by Bob Holthus, won last year’s Arkansas Derby with Lawyer Ron, will try and upset Curlin. Office Rocket is the 6-1 co-third choice with leading rider Luis Quinonez. The 4-1 second choice on the morning line is Deadly Dealer, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez. Pletcher is a two-time winner of the Arkansas Derby in 2000 and 2001. Deadly Dealer won his last two starts, at Fair Grounds and Gulfstream.
The other co-third choice is For You Reppo, trained by Helen Pitts, the original trainer of Curlin. Kent Desormeaux has the mount. If you are looking for a possible longshot then take a look at Storm in May, the winner of the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream. He is trained by Bill Kaplan and ridden by jockey Juan Leyva.
The Arkansas Derby is a major Kentucky Derby prep race. Smarty Jones came out of this race before his Derby win. The Arkansas Derby is the final day of Oaklawn’s 56-day live race meet. The Derby will be run as race #11 on the 12-race program that begins at 1:00 pm Eastern.
Here is a look at the entries for Saturday’s Arkansas Derby with program number, name, weight, jockey, trainer and morning line odds.
|
Pgm |
Horse |
Weight |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Odds |
|
1 |
Delightful Kiss |
118 |
Russell A. Baze |
Pete D. Anderson |
10-1 |
|
2 |
Curlin |
122 |
Robby Albarado |
Steven M. Asmussen |
7-5 |
|
3 |
Officer Rocket (GB) |
122 |
Luis S. Quinonez |
Robert E. Holthus |
6-1 |
|
4 |
Going Ballistic |
122 |
M. Clifton Berry |
Donnie K. Von Hemel |
12-1 |
|
5 |
Flying First Class |
118 |
Terry J. Thompson |
D. Wayne Lukas |
8-1 |
|
6 |
Storm in May |
122 |
Juan C. Leyva |
William A. Kaplan |
15-1 |
|
7 |
Olympic Chief |
118 |
Gen Kato |
Janet Davidson |
50-1 |
|
8 |
Slew by Slew |
122 |
Donald R. Pettinger |
Donnie K. Von Hemel |
20-1 |
|
9 |
For You Reppo |
118 |
Kent J. Desormeaux |
Helen Pitts |
6-1 |
|
10 |
Deadly Dealer |
118 |
John R. Velazquez |
Todd A. Pletcher |
4-1 |
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