Arkansas Derby Grade 1
The field for the 136th Kentucky Derby is starting get a little clearer after a pair of big prep races on the weekend, including the Arkansas Derby.
Trainer John Sadler will now have two horses in the May 1 Kentucky Derby after his Line of David, at odds of 17-1, won the Arkansas on Saturday. Sadler will also have Sidney’s Candy at Churchill Downs.
Line of David had won his last two on grass, and had never tried dirt before Saturday.
The Grade 1 Arkansas Derby was held at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Along with the Blue Grass Stakes (also held on Saturday), it is the final Grade 1 race before the Kentucky Derby. The Derby was highly competitive, as many horses tie their chances to start in the Kentucky Derby with the outcome of this race.
The biggest question going into the race was whether a horse would emerge, who will be placed on the same level as Eskendereya, Lookin At Lucky and Sidney’s Candy (the three favorites for the Kentucky Derby). Super Saver, Noble’s Promise, and Dublin are the odds-on favorites. All three have a good chance to start in next month’s Kentucky Derby.
Noble’s Promise and Dublin were the second and third place finishers at the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes behind Lookin At Lucky. With three victories in his last six starts, Noble’s Promise is the favorite for the Arkansas Derby. This will be the first time in four races that he won’t be racing against Lookin At Lucky.
Dublin raced with a different jockey for the fifth consecutive time. After winning his first graded stakes race (the Grade 1 Hopeful), Dublin finished his next two races in 5th and 7th. His last two have been more successful, with 2nd and 3rd place finishes at the Southwest (G3) and Rebel (G2).
The following was the complete field for the Arkansas Derby, in post-position order: Super Saver, Calvin Borel, 9-5; Dublin, Terry Thompson, 7-2; Noble’s Promise, Robby Albarado, 2-1: Northern Giant, Victor Espinoza, 8-1; Uh Oh Bango, Shaun Bridgmohan, 15-1; New Madrid, Abel Castellano, Jr., 20-1; Berberis, Aaron Gryder, 30-1; Line of David, Jon Court, 15-1 and Pulsion, Corey Nakatani, 15-1.
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