Arkansas Derby: Danza gives Pletcher a fourth Kentucky Derby prospect

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Danza came for the points and he went home with the lion’s share of them at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, when he pulled a 41-1 upset in his two-turn debut in Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby. The win was worth 100 points on the preference system used for the Kentucky Derby, and the race is now the target for the 3-year-old colt, said his trainer, Todd Pletcher.

“I would have to think so,” he said. “When you win a major prep race, the first thought is for sure!”

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Danza ($84.60) slipped through on the rail for a 4 ¾-length win over Ride On Curlin in the closing-day Arkansas Derby, which drew an ontrack crowd of 63,186. It was another half-length back in third to Bayern, who was the favorite over fourth-place finisher Tapiture. The Arkansas Derby shared a card with the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap, which was won by Will Take Charge.

Danza stalked the pace set by Bayern, who took the field through fractions of 23.72 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.71 for the half-mile, and 1:12.29 for six furlongs. Danza came through an opening along the inside into the stretch, and increased his advantage to the wire. He covered 1 1/8 miles on a track rated fast in 1:49.68.

“That was a pretty great effort,” said winning rider Joe Bravo. “Everything unfolded like a dream. That was pretty cool down the lane. It's really fun to have a special horse like that and have him run like that. I'm not a fortune-teller, but hopefully, in a couple of weeks we can do that again. I'm crossing my fingers he's my Derby horse. This is what dreams are made of.”

Danza, who races for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, has long shown talent, said Pletcher. The horse came into the race off a third-place finish in a Gulfstream Park allowance March 1. It was his first out since finishing a close third in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special last August. In his only other start, Danza won a maiden special weight in his debut last July at Belmont Park. He had not raced beyond seven furlongs heading into the Arkansas Derby.

“I couldn’t be more delighted, more excited, and more satisfied that he showed his quality,” Pletcher said of the horse’s effort Saturday.

Pletcher said Danza would ship to Churchill Downs on Sunday.

Pletcher has now won the Arkansas Derby four times. His other winners were Graeme Hall in 2000, Balto Star in 2001, and Overanalyze in 2013.

Ride On Curlin earned 40 points for his runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby, while Bayern picked up 20 for third, and Tapiture 10 for fourth. The remaining order of finish was Conquest Titan in fifth, followed by Commissioner, Thundergram, and Strong Mandate.

Danza is a son of the Street Cry stallion Street Boss, and was bred in Kentucky by Liberation Farm and Brandywine Farm. He earned $600,000 for the second win of his career, which lifts his bankroll to $667,428.

Oaklawn handled $12,237,621 on its 12-race card from all sources on Saturday.