Oaklawn Park Saturday, April 14
$1,000,000 Grade 1 Arkansas Derby Preview

 By Full Card Reports

(Post Time: 6:45 pm ET) The Grade 1 $1 million Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park has been called the perfect Kentucky Derby preparatory race. While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, it is certainly not far off. After all, the race has produced recent winners Smarty Jones and Super Saver as well as Triple Crown race winners Afleet Alex, Curlin and Summer Bird. This year’s field of 11 looks more than ready to live up to the expectations that come with winning such a prestigious race. The winner will have a date with destiny at Churchill Downs on May 5.

The favorite, BODEMEISTER (Empire Maker x Untouched Talent by Storm Cat), was last seen finishing second to Creative Cause in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. It was only his third career race. Named after trainer Bob Baffert’s son Bode, the colt broke through second time out with a 9 ¼ length maiden win at Santa Anita. Blinkers are coming off and jockey Mike Smith is likely to try and clear the field from the outside according to stable manager Justin Zayat.

SECRET CIRCLE (Eddington x Ragtime Hope by Dixieland Band) is the 5-2 second choice. This is a bit nonsensical as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint champ has lost just once and collected wins in both the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes and the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes. Many question his ability to go today’s distance of 9 furlongs, but his pedigree says it’s within his range. He beat a good group of horses last out and has shown no signs of slowing down. Rafael Bejarano retains the mount for Bob Baffert.

ISN’T HE CLEVER (Smarty Jones x Sharp Minister by Deputy Minister) was last seen finishing second in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby despite forging to the lead in the stretch. The earnings from that race went a long way to get him towards Churchill Downs, but he will probably need another good performance to secure his spot. Robby Albarado, who won this race on Curlin, will pick up the mount for trainer Henry Dominguez. Blinkers are coming off at 6-1.

STAT (Unbridled’s Song x Di’s Time by Gilded Time) has been led up to this race perfectly. What else would you expect from trainer Todd Pletcher? Owned by Bortolazzo Stable LLC, he started his year with a six and a half furlong optional claiming prep where he finished fourth before crushing the competition by 6 ¼ lengths going a mile under similar conditions at Gulfstream. As a juvenile he was second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special behind Union Rags. John Velazquez is making the trip to ride despite a potentially more attractive mount, Heavy Breathing (also trained by Pletcher) , in the Blue Grass Stakes. That could mean he thinks this one is live.

It looked like OPTIMIZER (English Channel x Indy Pick by A.P. Indy) wasn’t destined for dirt races after poor efforts in the Smarty Jones and Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, but he came on with a huge effort to be second in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes. He was charging hard late, but ran out of track. Looks like D Wayne Lukas knows what he was doing. The four time Kentucky Derby winning trainer is 0 for 50 in his last 50 tries at graded stakes races. Last year’s winning jockey, Jon Court, retains the mount on this 30-1 shot.

Steve Asmussen said his colt, SABERCAT (Bluegrass Cat x Miner’s Blessing by Forty Niner), was destined for two turn races after winning last year’s $1 million Grade 3 Delta Jackpot. He will get his chance to prove it here. Sabercat’s season began with an eighth place finish in the Rebel Stakes. A strong ride from jockey Corey Nakatani is imperative if he’s going to get back on track. Look for him to be running late at 15-1.

COZZETTI, NAJJAAR, JAKE MO, ATIGUN and RACONTEUR round out the field.

John J. Moore