Secret Oath draws post 6 among nine entered in Arkansas Derby
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Secret Oath has kept her Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas beaming all meet at Oaklawn Park with her performances, and there was more to be joyful about Sunday when she drew post 6 for Saturday's Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.
“They always give me exactly what I want,” joked Lukas, 86.
There were nine horses entered in the Arkansas Derby and post positions for the 1 1/8-mile race were drawn before the public in the winner’s circle on Sunday. Pat Pope, the track’s racing secretary, and Bart Lang, the local stakes coordinator, conducted the draw. There will be Kentucky Derby points offered to the first four finishers, on a scale of 100-40-20-10.
The Arkansas Derby will go as the 12th race on a 13-race program, it was announced at the draw. It is the richest race of the meet and it will be one of five stakes on the card. First post will be at noon Central.
Secret Oath will be taking on male rivals for the first time after winning her three Oaklawn starts by a combined margin of 23 lengths. She has already locked up a position in the starting gate for the Kentucky Oaks by virtue of her wins in the Grade 3 Honeybee and Martha Washington.
Luis Contreras, who is the regular rider on Secret Oath, has the mount for Briland Farm.
The complete Arkansas Derby field from the rail with riders is: Kavod, Mitchell Murrill; Chasing Time, Jose Lezcano; Barber Road, Reylu Gutierrez; Doppelganger, John Velazquez; Un Ojo, Ramon Vazquez; Secret Oath, Contreras; Ben Diesel, Jon Court; Cyberknife, Florent Geroux; and We the People, Flavien Prat.
Lukas was hoping for a middle-of-the-gate post for Secret Oath.
“We’re fine with the six,” he said. “And we’d have been fine with the five or the seven.”
Lukas said he was happy to avoid an outside draw with Secret Oath.
“What happens when they get to that [first] turn and everyone is trying to get into position to get settled into the race, they all hit together,” he said. “Whether you’ve got speed or not, enough of them gather there all at the same time at that turn. It becomes a traffic jam and you can get in trouble if you’re out there. You might not recover until up the backside.”
Oaklawn also drew the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy in the winner’s circle presentation. The Kentucky Oaks points race will be part of the card Saturday. The field from the rail with riders is: Dream Lith, Ramon Vazquez; Beguine, Francisco Arrieta; I Feel the Need, Alex Canchari; Magic Circle, Jose Lezcano; Eda, John Velazquez; Mariah’s Fortune, Flavien Prat; Yuugiri, Florent Geroux; Heartyconstitution, Martin Garcia; and Bubble Rock, Ricardo Santana Jr.