Grade 1 victors Muth and Timberlake have been established as the leading two choices for wagering on the morning line of the $1.5 million G1-Arkansas Derby, reserved for three-year-olds, set to take place on Saturday at Oaklawn.
Muth (8-5) and Timberlake (9-5) are among the ten contenders announced on Sunday morning for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, which serves as Oaklawn's fourth and final Kentucky Derby points race. The Arkansas Derby, positioned as the 12th race, serves as the cornerstone of a 13-race schedule commencing at 12:05 (Central) with the Arkansas Derby likely to start around 6:47 p.m.
Aside from the Arkansas Derby, the programme features three other notable stakes races - the $750,000 G2-Fantasy for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/16 miles, the $500,000 G3-Oaklawn Mile for older horses, and the $250,000 Matron for older fillies and mares covering six furlongs.
The Arkansas Derby offers a potential 200 points to its top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) towards securing eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. The field is limited to 20 starters.
Here is the lineup for the Arkansas Derby starting from the inside rail: Will Take It, ridden by Francisco Arrieta, carrying 121 pounds, with morning line odds of 50-1; Timberlake, guided by Flavien Prat, carrying 124 pounds, priced at 9-5; Dimatic, with Cristian Torres aboard, carrying 121 pounds, listed at 20-1; Time for Truth, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, carrying 121 pounds, with odds of 20-1; Liberal Arts, piloted by Tyler Gaffalione, carrying 124 pounds, priced at 15-1; Informed Patriot, ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., carrying 121 pounds, listed at 30-1; Muth, with Juan Hernandez in the saddle, carrying 124 pounds, priced at 8-5; Just Steel, under the guidance of Keith Asmussen, carrying 124 pounds, listed at 15-1; Mystik Dan, with Brian Hernandez Jr. as the jockey, carrying 124 pounds, priced at 5-2; and Imperial Gun, ridden by Emmanuel Esquivel, carrying 121 pounds, listed at 30-1.
Muth aims to secure Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his record-equalling fifth Arkansas Derby triumph. Muth's last race was a victory in the $200,000 G2-San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on January 6 at Santa Anita. The son of champion Good Magic, who has not raced outside California, achieved his most significant career win to date in the $300,000 G1-American Pharoah on October 7 at Santa Anita. Muth concluded 2023 with a second-place finish in the $2 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 3 at Santa Anita.
Due to Baffert’s suspension by Churchill Downs, Muth is ineligible for Kentucky Derby qualifying points and cannot participate in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Trainer Brad Cox is seeking his third consecutive Arkansas Derby victory with Timberlake, who kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a win in the $1.25 million G2-Rebel Stakes on February 24 at Oaklawn. The Rebel, covering 8 ½ furlongs, served as Oaklawn’s third Kentucky Derby points race.
Timberlake wrapped up 2023 with a triumph in the $500,000 G3-Champagne Stakes – a one-turn mile – on October 7 at Aqueduct and finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. No trainer has secured Oaklawn’s Arkansas Derby three years in a row.
Mystik Dan, currently the early third favourite, hasn't raced since a remarkable eight-length victory in Oaklawn's 1 1/16-mile $800,000 G3-Southwest Stakes on February 3. The son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents has been stationed at Fair Grounds since arctic temperatures, snow, and rain led to Oaklawn cancelling 11 days of training (January 13-23). The Southwest marked Oaklawn's second Kentucky Derby points race.
Just Steel and Liberal Arts secured second and third positions, respectively, in the Southwest. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen intends to field Rebel fifth-place finisher Dimatic, Imperial Gun, and Informed Patriot, aiming for his fifth victory in the Arkansas Derby. Informed Patriot finished third in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on January 1, which served as Oaklawn's first Kentucky Derby points race. The Smarty Jones winner, Catching Freedom, returned to claim victory in the $1 million G2-Louisiana Derby on Saturday at the Fair Grounds for Cox.
New York-bred standout My Mane Squeeze is the 3-1 programme favourite for the Fantasy, which will offer 200 points to its top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10, respectively) towards starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks. The Kentucky Oaks, the premier race for 3-year-old fillies in the country, is limited to 14 starters.
Lemon Muffin, Tapit Jenallie, and West Omaha finished first, second, and third, respectively, in the $400,000 G3-Honeybee Stakes on February 24. The 1/16-mile Honeybee marked Oaklawn's final major preparation for the Fantasy