Time for Truth passes two-turn test, possible for Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Time for Truth will be debated for a start in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby on March 30 after a professional allowance route win Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds was Time for Truth’s two-turn debut. He tracked the pace in second, moved to the lead through six furlongs in 1:12.74, then went on to a 1 1/2-length win in 1:45.88.

“At the end of the day, we’re trying to get to some good races, and we hope that this is a steppingstone to do that,” said trainer Ron Moquett.

Time for Truth had been entered in last weekend's Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel at Oaklawn, but was scratched from the race. Earlier in the meet, he defeated a highly regarded group of runners in his debut, when taking a maiden special weight sprint in December with a Beyer Speed Figure of 89. One start later, Time for Truth ran second in the $150,000 Ozark.

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Moquett was pleased to see Time for Truth past the two-turn test Saturday.

“I expected him to run well,” he said, “but until they do it, you know, you don’t ever count your chickens. Not to mention he missed a little training since the Rebel because two days before the Rebel he got cast in his stall and bumped his shin. So, he missed some training.”

Time for Truth is a son of Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach. He races for Harry Rosenblum and Cheyenne Stable. Moquett said plans are to be determined for Time for Truth.

“We’re going to talk to the owners and try to chart out a plan,” Moquett said. “Obviously, we’ve got some high hopes for this horse, so we’re going to see if there’s a possibility he’ll take us to the Arkansas Derby.”

Last year, Moquett saddled King Russell to a runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby off a maiden special weight route win at Oaklawn.

“We’ve been second in the Arkansas Derby twice and third once with Whitmore,” he said. “So, we’ve been nibbling around for a while. For an outfit that doesn’t get a lot of 3-year-olds, we’ve taken some pretty cool swings at it. As anyone from Arkansas would, we want to win that race.”

Time for Truth was a $47,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s auction of 2-year-olds in training last April.

“He’s beautiful,” Moquett said. “He’s scopey. All I can do is compare him to other horses that I’ve had and I can say he’s kind of like a bigger, more athletic Far Right.”

Far Right, who was co-owned by Rosenblum and trained by Moquett, was second in the 2015 Arkansas Derby after winning the track’s Smarty Jones and Grade 3 Southwest.

Rafael Bejarano has ridden Time for Truth is his three career starts.

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