Post not a big deal for More than Regal

For the connections of More Than Regal, there was little drama in drawing post 6 in a 12-horse field for Friday night's $250,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park. The important thing is the trip he gets, said his trainer, Scott Blasi.

"Believe me, I'm more concerned about what happens at the quarter pole than what happens at the start," said Blasi.

Posts for the Oklahoma Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race, were drawn Tuesday, and More Than Regal should be one of the favorites. He has won three stakes this year, including the $250,000 Iowa Derby in June.

Others who will vie for favoritism are Sensational Score, winner of the $100,000 Pomona Derby at Fairplex, and Louisborg, the third-place finisher last out in the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby. Louisborg has been made the morning-line favorite at 3-1.

Master of Disaster, another leading contender, will not make the trip to Remington from his Fair Hill training center base in Maryland, his trainer, Steve Klesaris, said Tuesday. Master of Disaster, a front-runner, drew gate 11.

"The post position we drew is not favorable," he said.

Klesaris said Master of Disaster will instead be pointed to the Grade 3, $100,000 Discovery at Aqueduct on Oct. 25. His defection could leave the rail-drawn Casino Evil to set the pace in the Oklahoma Derby. Casino Evil won the $150,000 Round Table on the front end at Arlington Park in July.

Sensational Score, who closed from 15 lengths back to win the Pomona Derby, flew in from Southern California on Tuesday morning. He will break from post 5 under Michael Baze.

"[We'll] get him back off the pace, and hopefully make the same run he made last time," said Mike Machowsky, who trains Sensational Score.

The complete field, from the rail with riders, is Casino Evil, Justin Shepherd; Private Fight, Glen Murphy; Like an Eagle, Carlos Marquez Jr.; Wait in Line, Roman Chapa; Sensational Score, Michael Baze; More Than Regal, Tim Doocy; Louisborg, Lonnie Meche; Almost Certain, Gerard Melancon; Mr. Pursuit, Cliff Berry; R's Star, Carlos Montalvo; Master of Disaster, Mario Pino; Belligerence, Richard Eramia.

Wait in Line and Belligerence will start as a coupled entry for Frontier Stables and trainer Chris Hartman.

The Oklahoma Derby is one of six stakes on the card, with total stakes purses on the night worth $675,000. The forecast for Friday is sunny skies with a high of 72 degrees and a low in the 50's. The Oklahoma Derby will go as the ninth race, with a scheduled post of 10:09 p.m. Central.