Gaffalione to ride Liberal Arts in Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will have the mount on Liberal Arts for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby, according to trainer Robbie Medina.

The race is March 30 at Oaklawn Park.

Liberal Arts also had been under consideration for the Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland, but the decision has been made to target the Arkansas Derby. He last raced Feb. 3, finishing third in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn.

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“He’s going seven weeks in between the races, we figured we’ll run him the Arkansas Derby,” Medina said. “We’ll see where that leads us. If that leads us to the [Kentucky Derby], then we’ll have five weeks to it.”

Liberal Arts, who in October won the Grade 3 Street Sense at Churchill Downs, worked March 4 at his Thoroughbred Training Center base in Lexington, Ky. He went a half-mile in the mud in 48.40 seconds. The move was the fastest of 30 at the distance, and his third work since the Southwest.

“He galloped out [five furlongs] in 1:00 and four-fifths,” Medina said. “He continues to do well since the race, and we’ll probably get a few more works in – it’s just a matter now of getting him to the Arkansas Derby.”

Medina said the plan is to ship in the week of the race.

Gaffalione takes over from Cristian Torres, who has ridden a handful of Kentucky Derby hopefuls this season. Medina said Gaffalione had originally been scheduled to ride Liberal Arts in his career debut, but was serving a suspension that week. Gaffalione returned to ride the Arrogate colt in his second start, when he finished second in a maiden special weight sprint at Ellis Park.

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