Baltas to run Taishan in Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Taishan, who was an impressive winner on the Rebel Stakes undercard earlier this month at Oaklawn Park, is being pointed to the Grade 1, $750,000 Arkansas Derby, according to trainer Richard Baltas.

The 1 1/8-mile race has been moved to the closing-day May 2 card in response to the Kentucky Derby being postponed to September due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Arkansas Derby continues to carry points for the Kentucky Derby.

Baltas said Taishan put himself in the Arkansas Derby with his breakthrough optional-claiming win March 14 at Oaklawn. Taishan turned in his best race to date, setting the pace in the 1 1/16-mile route and winning by 4 3/4 lengths. For the effort, Taishan earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

“He finally did what I thought he was going to do,” Baltas said. “He seems to be happy over there. He ran well, came back well.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

“He’s always been straightforward. A very nice horse.”

Taishan on Friday had his first work since the win, breezing a half-mile in 49.80 seconds on a fast track at Oaklawn.

Taishan races for Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran. He won his maiden in his two-turn debut Nov. 3 at Santa Anita. Taishan returned to action in January and was fourth in the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita. Authentic won that race and has since gone on to capture the Grade 2 San Felipe to stamp himself as a leading Kentucky Derby candidate for trainer Bob Baffert.

Taishan, meanwhile, was moved to a division Baltas has at Oaklawn and after a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Southwest in February ran to his promise in the allowance. He set a controlled pace and covered the distance in 1:44.55, a few races before Nadal, who was pressured throughout, won the Rebel in 1:44.97. Both races were run in the slop, and both horses broke from the rail under Joel Rosario.

Taishan is a son of Twirling Candy and a $150,000 graduate of the 2-year-olds in training auction put on by the Ocala Breeders Sales Co. in March 2019.

“He was an exceptional-looking horse,” Baltas said. “I just bought his 2-year-old half-sister by Munnings. Just at the recent sale. Munnings is very hot right now.”