Magnum Moon, Solomini rematch in Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Magnum Moon and Solomini, the first- and second-place finishers in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 17, drew side by side for their rematch in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

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Magnum Moon, the 8-5 morning-line favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher, will break from post 6 under Luis Saez. Solomini will start from post 5 under Flavien Prat. Trained by Bob Baffert, Solomini is the second choice on the line at 2-1.

Magnum Moon improved his record to 3 for 3 with a 3 1/2-length victory in the Rebel. Solomini, who steadied in tight quarters at the top of the stretch, re-rallied to get up for second.

“We are looking forward to a rematch,” said Justin Zayat, racing manager for Zayat Stables, a co-owner of Solomini. “Hopefully, we can turn the tables on him.”

The nine-horse field for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby also includes Quip, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. Quip, who is 3 for 4, drew post 8 and is the 9-2 third choice on the line.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has entered the trio of Combatant (post 9), Dream Baby Dream (post 4), and Tenfold (post 3).

Combatant has raced in the first three legs of Oaklawn’s series for 3-year-olds, finishing second in both the Smarty Jones and Southwest. He was nipped for second by a head in the Rebel.

Dream Baby Dream was second in the Sunland Derby last time out. Tenfold is 2 for 2 in his career, having won a pair of 1 1/16-mile races at Oaklawn.

The field is completed by Beautiful Shot, Machismo, and the late entrant Plainsman.

The Saturday card closes the Oaklawn meet. It also includes the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap, the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, and the $150,000 Northern Spur, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds.

Santa Anita Handicap winner Accelerate and two-time Grade 1 winner City of Light drew the outside posts in an 11-horse field in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap.

Accelerate, the 123-pound high weight for trainer John Sadler, will concede three pounds to City of Light, who will be making his first start beyond seven furlongs. He is trained by Michael McCarthy. Both runners flew in from California on Wednesday.

The six-furlong Count Fleet drew a competitive field of six that includes last year’s winner Whitmore. Trained by Ron Moquett, Whitmore kicked off his 5-year-old season with a neck win in the Hot Springs on March 10. Runner-up Wynn Time, who is trained by Mac Robertson, also returns in the Count Fleet.

Smart Spree, a 7-year-old who has found a new home on dirt this meet, also figures a major player. Smart Spree, who is conditioned by Norm McKnight, has scored three runaway victories at the meet.

Baffert will have another 3-year-old on the card in the Northern Spur. Ike, a sharp Santa Anita maiden winner who was third in a Oaklawn optional claimer on the Rebel undercard, will be making his two-turn debut.