In a move believed to be unprecedented in American racing history, Oaklawn will split the 84th running of the Arkansas Derby Saturday, May 2. Thanks to the cooperation of Churchill Downs, both divisions will carry the full 170 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Kentucky Derby is now scheduled for Sept. 5.
The Arkansas Derby was originally scheduled to have a purse of $1,000,000. Under the provisions of the split, each division will have a purse of $500,000.
In making the announcement, Oaklawn president Louis Cella said, “Because of our national crisis, we and the entire world of sports are in uncharted waters requiring unprecedented actions. We’re trying to make the best of a very, very difficult situation. On the one hand, it is the worst of times to be racing without fans in our grandstand. On the other, we have a large number of exceptional three-year-olds wanting to run in our Arkansas Derby. We simply did not want to see anyone lose that opportunity.”
The exciting colt CHARLATAN heads the first division of the 1 1/8 mile race on the dirt based on two starts and two very easy wins with Beyer Figures of 106 and 105 in those two romps. Had the race not split, the son of Speightstown would not have made it into an oversubscribed field based on his low earnings.
Charlatan is co-owned by Toronto’s JOHN FIELDING and was a $700,000 yearling purchase. Bob Baffert trains the imposing colt who will start from post 1.
Also in the first division is Canadian-owned ANNEAU D’OR, the son of Medaglia D’Oro owned by Vancouver’s Peter Redekop. The colt was second by just a head in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita last fall but ninth in his 3-year-old debut in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds.
The second division is easily the strongest split of the Arkansas Derby with the undefeated NADAL (Blame) meeting impressive Tampa Bay Derby winner KING GUILLERMO (Uncle Mo), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner STORM THE COURT and Louisiana Derby (G2) winner WELLS BAYOU.
Fielding has a starter in this division also, longshot Saratogian, a maiden winner recently ninth in an allowance race.
CHARLATAN is 2 for 2 with Beyer Speed Figures of 106 and 105, for co-owner JOHN FIELDING of Toronto. Santa Anita/Benoit photo
Saturday, Oaklawn, post time: 6:29 p.m. EDT
ARKANSAS DERBY-GI, $500,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m
POST POSITION – HORSE (odds) – SIRE – OWNER – TRAINER – JOCKEY – WEIGHT
1 Charlatan (7-5) – Speightstown – SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket StablesLLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Frederich Hertrich, III, John D. Fielding, and Golconda Stables – Bob Baffert – Martin Garcia – 118
2 My Friends Beer (15-1) – Stay Thirsty – Designated Hitters Racing, LLC – Jeremiah O’Dwyer – Declan Cannon – 118
3 Mo Mosa (30-1) – Uncle Mo – Perry Martin, and Denise Martin – Michael Maker – Kendrick Carmouche – 118
4 Gouverneur (3-1)- Morris K Constitution – Team Valor International and WinStar Farm LLC – Todd Pletcher – John Velazquez – 118
5 Jungle Runner (30-1) – Candy Ride (Arg) – Calumet Farm – Steven Asmussen – Tyler Baze – 122
6 Shooters Shoot (12-1) – Competitive Edge – ERJ Racing, LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC and Dan Hudock – Peter Eurton – Joseph Talamo – 118
7 Wrecking Crew (12-1) – Sky Kingdom – Rockingham Ranch – Peter Miller – Flavien Prat – 118
8 Anneau d’Or (8-1) – Medaglia d’Oro – Peter Redekop B. C., Ltd. – Blaine Wright – Juan Hernandez – 118
9 Winning Impression (30-1) – Paynter – West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing – Dallas Stewart – Julien Leparoux – 118
10 Crypto Cash (15-1) – Majesticperfection – Tommie M. Lewis, and Magdalena Racing – Kenneth McPeek – Corey Lanerie – 118
11 Basin (8-1) – Liam’s Map – Jackpot Farm – Steven Asmussen – Ricardo Santana, Jr. – 122
Breeders: 1-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC, 2-Best A Luck Farm LLC, 3-Perry Martin & Denise Martin, 4-Machmer Hall, Carrie Brogden, Craig Brogden & James F. Miller, 5-Calumet Farm, 6-Nancy C. Shuford, 7-Westrock Stables, 8-Highland Yard LLC, 9-WinStar Farm, LLC, 10-D.J. Stables, 11-Cottonwood Stables, LLC
Saturday, Oaklawn, post time: 7:43 p.m. EDT
ARKANSAS DERBY-GI, (2nd div) $500,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 Finnick the Fierce (30-1) – Dialed In Monge – Arnaldo and Hernandez – Rey Hernandez – Martin Garcia – 118
2 Saratogian (50-1) – Empire Maker – SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Frederich Hertrich, III, John D. Fielding, and Golconda Stables – Rudolphe Brisset – Joseph Talamo – 122
3 Storm the Court (10-1) – Court Vision – David A Bernsen LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, Dan Hudock and Susanna Wilson – Peter Eurton – Flavien Prat – 122
4 King Guillermo (6-1) – Uncle Mo – Victoria Martinez – Juan Carlos Avila – Samy Camacho – 122
5 Nadal (7-5)- Blame – George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, Mark Mathiesen – Bob Baffert – Joel Rosario – 122
6 Code Runner (50-1) – Honor Code – Calumet Farm – Stephen Asmussen – Stewart Elliott – 122
7 Silver Prospector (6-1) – Declaration of War – Ed Orr, and Susie Orr – Stephen Asmussen – Ricardo Santana, Jr. – 122
8 Fast Enough (30-1) – Eddington – Rockingham Ranch and Craig Martin – Rafael Becerra – Tyler Baze – 122
9 Taishan (12-1) – Twirling Candy – Calvin Nguyen Joey Tran – Richard Baltas – David Cohen – 118
10 Farmington Road (10-1) – Quality Road – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Chrysalis Stables, and Robert LaPenta – Todd Pletcher – Javier Castellano – 118
11 Wells Bayou (6-1) – Lookin At Lucky – Clint Gasaway, Lance Gasaway, Madaket StablesLLC and Wonder Stables – Brad Cox – Florent Geroux – 122
Breeders: 1-Paige Jillian Blu Sky Stables, 2-Don Alberto Corporation, 3-Stepping Stone Farm, 4-Carhue Investments, Grouseridge Ltd. &Marengo Investments, 5-Sierra Farm, 6-Baumann Stables, Edward Bradley & Dr.Aaron Sones, 7-Hargus Sexton, Sandra Sexton &Silver Fern Farm, LLC, 8-Craig Martin, 9-Nursery Place, Donaldson & Broadbent, 10-Chrysalis Stables, 11-Knowles Bloodstock, Inc.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
