Kentucky Derby: Arkansas Derby hopeful Two Eagles River comes from small world

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Kavod took co-owner Michael Robinson on a Grade 1 ride last April when he ran in the Arkansas Derby.

The horse, who finished fifth, was one of the first runners owned by the 46-year-old family practitioner from Sayre, Okla.

Robinson will again see action in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, as the co-owner of Two Eagles River.

“Eighteen months in racing and we’re going to be in the Arkansas Derby two times in a row? It’s just crazy to me,” Robinson said. “We’re definitely appreciating how difficult it is to be able to run in these classic races, this time for sure.”

Two Eagles River earned a chance at the Arkansas Derby after winning an Oaklawn allowance route by four lengths Feb. 19. The stakes-placed runner earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91 for his wire-to-wire victory over Disarm, who returned in his next start to run second in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

“With Disarm performing as well as he did, we’re excited,” Robinson said. “He’s kind of a sleeper.”

Robinson races Two Eagles River with Robert Garrett. The men met for the first time at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction last April – despite both hailing from the small town of Sayre. Robinson said Garrett approached a table he was having breakfast at with his partner in Kavod, fellow Oklahoma resident Jim Rogers, and trainer Chris Hartman.

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“He said, ‘I think I know your mom,’ ” recalled Robinson. “I’m from Sayre.

“We just kind of hit it off.”

Two Eagles River was a $220,000 purchase at the auction. Robinson’s wife, Lindsay, came up with the name for the son of Cloud Computing. She included Garrett’s protocol of using the word river in the names of his runners. Lindsay Robinson decided on Two Eagles River as the eagle is the mascot for a school both men graduated from, Sayre High School.

“We’re the two Eagles,” said Robinson, who races as Mach 1 Racing.

Robinson said Rogers introduced him to racing. Lindsay Robinson knew Rogers from his days on the rodeo circuit. The connection led them to Hartman, who is having a banner meet at Oaklawn. He is Oaklawn’s third leading trainer, with 31 wins from 98 starts for stable earnings of $1.8 million.

“I’m just real happy for him,” Robinson said. “I think he’s brilliant. He works real hard.”

Hartman selected Two Eagles River at auction. The horse’s regular rider is Nik Juarez.

“We have a business model,” Robinson said. “The CEO is going to run the company and Chris is the CEO. So, he’s going to make all those decisions.”

Robinson is expanding his interests in racing under the direction of Hartman. He has five horses in training at the track, with some in partnership. The Robinsons also have four 2-year-olds at a training center and three yearlings – plus they recently bought a share in Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner and stallion Aloha West.

“We’ve been looking at potential broodmares,” Robinson said.

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