2019 Arkansas Derby Study Guide

Apr 12, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A strong field of 11 sophomores will contest Saturday’s $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. The Road to the Kentucky Derby event offers 100 points to the winner in what is arguably the deepest Derby prep of the season.

FREE Arkansas Derby PPs courtesy of Brisnet.com!

Here is the field:

Improbable Career Racing Stats

4 Starts
3 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $419,520

Top BRIS Speed rating (100) in Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) win

Owner: China Horse Club International and WinStar Farm
Breeder: St. George Farm LLC and G. Watts Humphrey Jr. (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Sire: City Zip
Dam: Rare Event
Color: Chestnut

This Grade 1 winner led through the stretch only to be collared late in the first division of the Rebel Stakes (G2) in his 2019 debut. The chestnut colt will race with blinkers on for the initial time and he comes into the race off of a pair of bullet morning drills. The top contender will also receive a rider change to Jose Ortiz.

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Six Shooter Career Racing Stats

10 Starts
3 Wins
0 Place
4 Show
Total Career Earnings: $168,850

Top BRIS Speed rating (92) in Gazebo Stakes third

Owner: Dundalk 5 LLC, N P H Stable & Wes Herek
Breeder: Craig D. Upham (KY)
Trainer: Paul Holthus
Jockey: David Cohen

Sire: Trappe Shot
Dam: Academy Road
Color: Dark Bay

The stakes victor was a creditable fourth in the Southwest Stakes (G3) two back, prior to his third-place finish in the local Gazebo Stakes. The gelding has shown some improvement since adding blinkers two prior, though he still remains a question mark at the distance. The Kentucky-bred will be rallying from off the pace in this spot.

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Omaha Beach Career Racing Stats

6 Starts
2 Wins
3 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $521,800

Top BRIS Speed rating (98) in Rebel Stakes (G2) win

Owner: Fox Hill Farm
Breeder: Charming Syndicate (KY)
Trainer: Richard Mandella
Jockey: Mike Smith

Sire: War Front
Dam: Charming
Color: Dark Bay

This rising star was a fine winner of the second division of the Rebel Stakes (G2) here most recently and appeared to have a lot left in the tank at the finish. The son of War Front has moved forward since switching from the turf to the dirt for conditioner Richard Mandella. The colt will cement his status as a leading Kentucky Derby candidate with another strong showing in this contest.

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Tikhvin Flew Career Racing Stats

3 Starts
1 Wins
0 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $58,400

Top BRIS Speed rating (99) in maiden victory

Owner: Bloom Racing Stable LLC and Madaket Stable
Breeder: Mineola Farm II LLC and Silent Grove Farms LLC (KY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Tyler Baze

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Chatique
Color: Bay

The bay colt didn’t factor in a tough edition of the Gotham Stakes (G3) in advance of this, his biggest assignment. The $110,000 yearling purchase receives a rider change to Tyler Baze, and the colt could be an exotics contender at a big price with expected improvement in here.

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Laughing Fox Career Racing Stats

5 Starts
2 Wins
0 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $108,518

Top BRIS Speed rating (93) in allowance victory

Owner: Alex and Joann Lieblong
Breeder: Chester and Anne Prince (KY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Sire: Union Rags
Dam: Saskawea
Color: Chestnut

This $375,000 colt was a non-factor in the second division of the Rebel Stakes (G2) in his latest performance. The longshot will need to take a big step forward to factor late under Ricardo Santana Jr. against a fine field.

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Gray Attempt Career Racing Stats

6 Starts
4 Wins
0 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $261,366

Top BRIS Speed rating (97) in Gazebo Stakes win

Owner: Dwight Pruett
Breeder: WynnStay LLC, Donna Moore and Jim Richardson (KY)
Trainer: William Fires
Jockey: Stewart Elliot

Sire: Graydar
Dam: Attempt to Name
Color: Gray/Roan

This speedy sort owns a trio of stakes wins from his last four races and could be the one to catch early on. The talented sophomore was trounced in the Southwest Stakes (G3) two prior, and he must prove that he belongs with a field of this quality.

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Galilean Career Racing Stats

5 Starts
3 Wins
1 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $336,000

Top BRIS Speed rating (97) in Golden State Juvenile Stakes second

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds and Denise Barker
Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (CA)
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Fresia
Color: Bay

This win contender finished a solid third in his local debut in the first division of the Rebel Stakes (G2) in preparing for this big test. The California-bred is ultra-talented and will race with the blinkers off for the first time since his debut as a juvenile. The $600,000 two-year-old purchase could be sitting on a peak effort third time off the layoff.

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Country House Career Racing Stats

5 Starts
1 Wins
2 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $160,175

Top BRIS Speed rating (95) for fourth in Louisiana Derby (G2)

Owner: Mrs. J.V. Shields Jr., E.J.M. McFadden Jr. and LNJ Foxwoods 
Breeder: J. V. Shields Jr. (KY)
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Sire: Lookin At Lucky
Dam: Quake Lake
Color: Chestnut

This late runner from the Bill Mott barn lands in a field full of pace and might get a dream set up in the stretch. The consistent colt possesses a nice turn of foot, and he will have Joel Rosario on his back for the initial time. This win contender will aim to go last-to-first in all likelihood in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

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One Flew South Career Racing Stats

2 Starts
1 Wins
0 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $14,100

Top BRIS Speed rating (85) in maiden tally

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables LLC
Breeder: Gabriel & William Duignan and Tranquility Investments (KY)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Calvin Borel

Sire: Giant’s Causeway
Dam: Sky Haven
Color: Dark Bay

The lightly raced three-year-old was a winner on debut over the all-weather surface at Turfway Park, and he followed that with a fifth-place result in the Mine That Bird Derby. The Kentucky-bred seems to be ambitiously placed against this cast while making just his third career appearance.

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Jersey Agenda Career Racing Stats

5 Starts
2 Wins
1 Place
0 Show
Total Career Earnings: $142,567

Top BRIS Speed rating (92) in maiden race

Owner: Charles Fipke
Breeder: Charles Fipke (KY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez

Sire: Jersey Town
Dam: Risky Agenda
Color: Dark Bay

This dark bay colt has been outrun by 10 lengths in each of his pair of graded races at this meeting leading up to this one. The talented sort is training well but will need to take a major step forward to challenge for the top spot.

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Long Range Toddy Career Racing Stats

7 Starts
4 Wins
1 Place
1 Show
Total Career Earnings: $851,125

Top BRIS Speed rating (97) in Rebel Stakes (G2) win

Owner: Willis Horton Racing LLC
Breeder: Willis Horton Racing LLC (KY)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Jon Court

Sire: Take Charge Indy
Dam: Pleasant Song
Color: Dark Bay

A consistently very good sophomore, this colt was a game winner of the first division of the Rebel Stakes (G2) in advance of this. The homebred has won or placed in six straight, the last five against stakes foes, and he rates as an obvious player in the field. The versatile sophomore will be rallying from off the pace once again under Jon Court.