Improbable, Omaha Beach top field of 11 in Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Improbable drew the rail for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, which will have a field of 11 for Saturday. Entries for the 1 1/8-mile race were taken on Wednesday.

The Arkansas Derby will be the 11th race on a 12-race program that will have a special first post of 12:30 p.m. Central.

Improbable launched his season in the first division of the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel last month at Oaklawn and finished a close second. He was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the Arkansas Derby. Jose Ortiz has the mount on the horse, who will add blinkers Saturday, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

Omaha Beach, who won the second division of the Rebel, drew post 3. He was made the 2-1 second choice on the morning line. Mike Smith has the mount for trainer Richard Mandella.

Long Range Toddy, who won the first division of the Rebel, drew post 11. Jon Court has the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen.

The field from the rail with riders: Improbable, Jose Ortiz; Six Shooter, David Cohen; Omaha Beach, Mike Smith; Tikhvin Flew, Tyler Baze; Laughing Fox, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Gray Attempt, Stewart Elliott; Galilean, Flavien Prat; Country House, Joel Rosario; One Flew South, Calvin Borel; Jersey Agenda, Ramon Vazquez; and Long Range Toddy, Jon Court.

Five Hall of Fame trainers have starters in the Arkansas Derby. In addition to Asmussen, Baffert, and Mandella, the Arkansas Derby drew representatives from Jerry Hollendorfer (Galilean) and Bill Mott (Country House).

The first four finishers Saturday will earn Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 100-40-20-10.

The card Saturday also includes the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap and the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap. The stakes are part of the annual Racing Festival of the South, which runs through Sunday with the Grade 1, $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap and the Fifth Season. The series, worth $3.6 million, launches Friday with the Grade 3, $500,000 Fantasy, which is a points race for the Kentucky Oaks.

The Arkansas Derby will be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network. Prior to the race, Oaklawn will be covered on Fox Sports 2.