Looking Ahead: Cornucopian and Speed King seek Arkansas Derby points and purse

Mar 28, 2025 Sara Dacus/TwinSpires.com

Speed King winning the Southwest (Photo by Coady Media)

The $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1)—one of the richest races on The Road to the Kentucky Derby—is Saturday, and the purse and the 100 qualifying points have attracted a strong nine-horse field. Historically, this race has been a key prep, producing eight eventual winners, including last year’s victor Mystik Dan, 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, and 2004 Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert ships 7-5 favorite Cornucopian, a promising colt making his second career start. In his debut, he delivered a dazzling performance in a maiden special weight race on the Rebel S. (G2) undercard, wiring the field to win by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:09.02— the fastest six-furlong time recorded by a three-year-old maiden at Oaklawn. That effort earned him an impressive Equibase Speed Figure of 108. Baffert, a five-time Arkansas Derby winner, seeks to extend his record, having won last year’s edition with Muth. Cornucopian will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

KENTUCKY DERBY MAIDEN WATCH: CORNUCOPIAN WINS LIKE JUSTIFY

The $1.1 million yearling acquisition started as the 7-10 favorite in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Oaklawn Park and won in a manner reminiscent of his Triple Crown-winning predecessor.https://t.co/KC5Sx8TnGY

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 25, 2025

Despite his limited experience, Cornucopian’s pedigree suggests he can handle the added distance. He is a son of Into Mischief, who secured his sixth consecutive North American general sire title in 2024. He also sired Florida Derby (G1) favorite Sovereignty and Cornucopian’s stablemates and fellow Derby hopefuls Citizen Bull and Barnes. Cornucopian was purchased for $1.1 million, and his high-profile ownership group includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and Stonestreet Stables.

Speed King has just one blemish on his record and the potential to outrun his 15-1 odds. He scored a front-running victory at 14-1 in Oaklawn’s $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3), and he looks to rebound from a tenth-place finish in the Rebel S. (G2). He continues to post impressive workouts, recording three bullets since January. Rafael Bejarano, who committed to spending the winter at Oaklawn in pursuit of a Kentucky Derby contender, retains the mount.

Owner Ted Bowman of Triton Thoroughbreds and trainer Ron Moquett are both Hot Springs residents. Bowman purchased Speed King for $100,000, which was more than he had planned. He has been in racing for 19 years, and Moquett has trained his horses almost exclusively. The two collaborated on Bowman’s lone Grade 1 victory: with Seek Gold at 91.70-1 odds in the 2006 Stephen Foster S.  Moquett trained 2020 Champion Male Sprinter Whitmore.

The 14-race program includes five other stakes races, including the $750,000 Fantasy (G2), a Kentucky Oaks prep, and the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for older horses.