Timberlake's Next Move is the $1.5 Million Arkansas Derby

Grade 1 victors Muth and Timberlake emerged as the top two preferred choices for betting on the morning line ahead of the $1.5 million G1-Arkansas Derby for three-year-olds, scheduled for Saturday at Oaklawn.

Muth (8-5) and Timberlake (9-5) were part of a field of 10 contenders announced Sunday morning for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, marking Oaklawn's fourth and final Kentucky Derby points race. Positioned as the 12th race, the Arkansas Derby serves as the pinnacle of a 13-race programme commencing at 12:05 (Central). The anticipated post time for the Arkansas Derby is 6:47 p.m.

Apart from the Arkansas Derby, the programme features three additional stakes races – the $750,000 G2-Fantasy for 3-year-old fillies covering 1 1/16 miles, the $500,000 G3-Oaklawn Mile for older horses, and the $250,000 Matron for older fillies and mares over six furlongs.

The Arkansas Derby holds the potential to allocate up to 200 points to its leading five finishers (100-50-25-15-10, respectively), contributing to their eligibility to start in the Kentucky Derby. Participation in the race is capped at 20 starters.

The lineup for the Arkansas Derby, listed from the inside rail out, comprises: 

1. Will Take It, ridden by Francisco Arrieta, carrying 121 pounds, with odds of 50-1 on the morning line.
2. Timberlake, with Flavien Prat aboard, carrying 124 pounds, and odds of 9-5.
3. Dimatic, piloted by Cristian Torres, carrying 121 pounds, with odds of 20-1.
4. Time for Truth, partnered with Rafael Bejarano, carrying 121 pounds, and odds of 20-1.
5. Liberal Arts, guided by Tyler Gaffalione, carrying 124 pounds, with odds of 15-1.
6. Informed Patriot, under the reins of Ricardo Santana Jr., carrying 121 pounds, with odds of 30-1.
7. Muth, ridden by Juan Hernandez, carrying 124 pounds, with odds of 8-5.
8. Just Steel, steered by Keith Asmussen, carrying 124 pounds, with odds of 15-1.
9. Mystik Dan, with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard, carrying 124 pounds, and odds of 5-2.
10. Imperial Gun, handled by Emmanuel Esquivel, carrying 121 pounds, with odds of 30-1.

Muth aims to secure a milestone for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert by potentially clinching his fifth Arkansas Derby triumph. Since his victory in the $200,000 G2-San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs on January 6 at Santa Anita, Muth has not competed. The progeny of the champion Good Magic, who has yet to race outside California, achieved his most significant career triumph in the $300,000 G1-American Pharoah on October 7 at Santa Anita. Concluding 2023 with a second-place finish in the $2 million G1-Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 3 at Santa Anita, Muth has demonstrated considerable promise on the racetrack.

Due to Baffert's suspension by Churchill Downs, Muth is disqualified from accruing Kentucky Derby qualifying points and participating in the inaugural leg of the Triple Crown.

Trainer Brad Cox seeks his third consecutive Arkansas Derby triumph with Timberlake, who initiated his 3-year-old campaign by securing victory in the $1.25 million G2-Rebel Stakes on February 24 at Oaklawn. The Rebel, contested over 8 ½ furlongs, represented Oaklawn's third Kentucky Derby points race.

Timberlake wrapped up 2023 on a high note by clinching victory in the $500,000 G3-Champagne Stakes, a one-turn mile race held on October 7 at Aqueduct, followed by a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. It's worth noting that no trainer has achieved a three-peat in winning Oaklawn's Arkansas Derby.

Mystik Dan, currently positioned as the early third choice, has not competed since a remarkable eight-length triumph in Oaklawn's 1 1/16-mile $800,000 G3-Southwest Stakes on February 3. This son of two-time Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents has been stationed at Fair Grounds due to inclement weather conditions, including arctic temperatures, snow, and rain, which led to Oaklawn cancelling 11 days of training (January 13-23). The Southwest Stakes represented Oaklawn's second Kentucky Derby points race.

Just Steel and Liberal Arts secured the second and third positions, respectively, in the Southwest Stakes. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen plans to enter Rebel's fifth-place finisher Dimatic, along with Imperial Gun and Informed Patriot, as he strives for his fifth Arkansas Derby triumph. Informed Patriot notably clinched third place in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on January 1. It's noteworthy that the Smarty Jones Stakes marked Oaklawn's inaugural Kentucky Derby points race. Additionally, the victor of the Smarty Jones, Catching Freedom, recently triumphed in the $1 million G2-Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds under the guidance of Cox.

My Mane Squeeze, a standout from New York breeding, is the 3-1 favourite according to the programme for the Fantasy Stakes. The race will allocate 200 points to its top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10, respectively), contributing to their eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks. The Kentucky Oaks, the premier event for 3-year-old fillies in the country, has a restricted field of 14 starters.

In the $400,000 G3-Honeybee Stakes on February 24, Lemon Muffin, Tapit Jenallie, and West Omaha secured the top three positions, respectively. The Honeybee, contested over 1 1/16 miles, served as Oaklawn's final significant preparation event for the Fantasy Stakes.