Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Arkansas Derby comes our way from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas this Saturday, April 13. It represents one of the two last chances for three year old Kentucky Derby hopefuls to gain 100-40-20-10 points for first through fourth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Along with the valuable qualifying points, a nice purse of $1 million will be on the line for those willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Oaklawn Park's main dirt track.
A field of 10 Derby hopefuls will line up in the Arkansas Derby - race 10 on Oaklawn Park's Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:28 PM. Let's take a look at the past performances of all 10 entries for this crucial points gathering Kentucky Derby tune-up stakes.
2013 Arkansas Derby Race Favorites
War Academy - has just three career starts for trainer Bob Baffert with two wins - last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita March 15 and in his debut - a MSW at Hollywood Park November 9. His only stakes action resulted in a close fourth February 17 at the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. He is the morning line favorite despite never placing in a stakes race.
Oxbow - D. Wayne Lucas trainee started with four Maiden Special Weight races in his career with one win (in his fourth start), a third, a fourth and a seventh place finish. Since that time he has had a pair of fourths in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at 60/1 odds and Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes by just 1/2 length with a great win by an incredible 11 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at Fair Grounds January 19 sandwiched in there. Last time out was a good second in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 16 to put him right in the thick of the Kentucky Derby picture. He drew and outside post again for the Arkansas Derby but will have the uber-experienced Gary Stevens in the saddle.
Arkansas Derby 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Overanalyze - Todd Pletcher entry that has three wins and a third place finish in six career starts. He started with a Maiden Special Weight score at Saratoga on August 9, finished fourth in the Grade 2 Three Chimneys Hopeful behind early Kentucky Derby favorite Shanghai Bobby and followed that up with an impressive win in the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park September 30. He recorded another impressive win in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct November 24 after an OK third as 9-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes October 28. Last time out was his worst career effort however - a fifth in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct March 2. He has apparently looked good in workouts leading up to the Arkansas and will look to join stable mates Verrazano and Revolutionary in the Run for the Roses.
Den's Legacy - Bob Baffert trained colt that was second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Preview Stakes November 3. He followed that with an impressive win in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes on turf November 24. He had a nice second in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on dirt January 5 and followed that with a second in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis February 2 after a decent third in the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park December 15. Last time out was a decent third in the Grade 3 Rebel Stakes March 16 at Oaklawn Park. Den's Legacy has placed in his last seven starts with four seconds against some of the best three year olds in the land!
Falling Sky - has five career starts and three wins - a 1 3/4 length score in a 6 1/2 furlong Allowance Optional Claiming December 14 in which he earned an 89 Beyer Speed figure, a MSW score in his debut November 1 at Calder and two back in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in gate-to-wire fashion February 2. Sandwiched in there is a fourth in the minor Inaugural Stakes December 1. Last time out was an OK third behind Verrazano and Java's War in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby March 9. He has looked good the last four months and could contend Saturday.
Frac Daddy - Kenneth McPeek trained colt has five career starts with a win in a Maiden Special Weight by 9 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs in November and two second place finishes - a MSW in his debut in October and a very close second to Uncaptured in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes November 24. Last time out was a disappointing seventh in the Grade 1 Florida Derby March 30 after an equally disappointing sixth in the Grade 3 Holy Bull January 26 - maybe due to the throat ulcer he had in that race.
Texas Bling - has 13 career starts for trainer Danele Durham with two wins, two seconds and a third place finish. He had a win December 9 in the minor Remington Springboard Mile and followed that with an OK second in the Smarty Jones Stakes January 21 but was a distant ninth in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park February 18. Last time out was a close fourth in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 16.
Carve - has just three career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen - two wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming score over Title Contender February 17 after a Maiden Claiming win January 25. Last time out was his stakes debut - an unimpressive sixth in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes here March 16.
Divine Ambition - Darrin Miller trained colt is coming off an OK second in the Team Valor Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park March 23 after an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Gulfstream February 21. He had a sixth in his only graded stakes action at the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs February 2. He has two wins, a second and a third in three career starts.
Heaven's Runway - had a pair of disappointing sevenths to end 2012 - the Grade 3 Iroquois in October and the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot in November but has started 2013 off in decent form - thirds in the minor Big Drama Stakes January 5 and the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park February 18. He has two wins, a second and two third place finishes in eight career starts.
