Nadal gives Baffert a sweep of split Arkansas Derby; closing day handle reaches $41 million

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - An unprecedented meet at Oaklawn Park ended in unprecedented fashion when Nadal won the second division of the $500,000 Arkansas Derby to give trainer Bob Baffert a sweep of the Grade 1 races. Charlatan won the first division, also worth $500,000 on Saturday.

Nadal won by three lengths over King Guillermo, who finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Finnick the Fierce. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back in fourth to Farmington Road. The four horses earned Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 100-40-20-10.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a series of twists and turns in racing, with Oaklawn conducting spectator-free cards from March 13 through its closing day program Saturday. The pandemic led to cancellations of racing around the country, and to fill the void, Oaklawn split the Arkansas Derby when it drew 22 entrants.

The Arkansas Derby had been scheduled for April 11, but was moved to Saturday after the Kentucky Derby was postponed to Sept. 5. Churchill Downs committed to offer the full points value for each division of the Arkansas Derby, which had an original purse value of $750,000.

Baffert became the first trainer to sweep both divisions of the Arkansas Derby, which had been split one other time, in 1960.

"That was quite a day," Baffert said. "It worked out. We ran two extremely talented 3-year-olds."

Baffert also was quick to compliment the rides of Joel Rosario on Nadal and Martin Garcia on Charlatan.

"Martin is riding with a lot of confidence and when he starts riding horses with a lot of confidence, he’s one of the best riders out there.

"I didn’t say much to him. I said 'You know what to do, you’ve been on the good horses.' I was happy for him."

Baffert also liked the ride Rosario gave Nadal.

"He was in the catbird seat the whole way," Baffert said.

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Nadal ($3.80) came into the Arkansas Derby off a win in the Grade 1, $1 million Rebel at Oaklawn. He broke well and settled just off Wells Bayou, who took the field through fractions of 23.08 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.21 for the half-mile, and 1:09.85 for six furlongs. Nadal moved to the fore from there, and went on to cover the mile and an eighth in 1:48.34.

“Once he gets going, he is lightning fast because he’s got a big stride,” co-owner George Bolton said during a press conference at Oaklawn. “He’s an exciting package.”

Joel Rosario was aboard Nadal, who was his fifth winner on the card Saturday.

“He ran a very good race, was very impressive,” Rosario said during an interview broadcast at Oaklawn. “He’s a champ.”

Nadal remained undefeated in four starts with the victory, which was his third consecutive graded stakes score in a streak that started in February in the Grade 2 San Vicente at his home track of Santa Anita.

Bolton said plans are to be determined for Nadal. The horse is a son of Blame who also races for Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen.

Nadal earned $300,000 for the win to push his career bankroll to $1,253,000.

"He's a big, beautiful horse," Baffert said. "He's strong and he's gritty and he showed that last time. He's been working really well, and I just told Joel get away from there and ride with confidence. He'll stalk."

Baffert said Nadal and Charlatan will return home to Santa Anita on Monday.

* Oaklawn handled an all-time record $41 million on its 14-race card Saturday.