HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Secret Circle has developed into one of the nation’s top Kentucky Derby prospects without a lot of fanfare. Even though he will be going for a sweep of Oaklawn Park’s series for 3-year-olds on Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, it is a stablemate of his, Bodemeister, who has been grabbing a good deal of attention after being made the morning-line favorite for the race.
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With the big race now only three weeks away, the last two major Kentucky Derby preps will be contested Saturday. But while the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby and the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes are certainly the undisputed headliners on the respective cards at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland, there are noteworthy stakes on each undercard. Among the three other stakes at Keeneland is the Grade 1, $300,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes, Meanwhile, the Grade 2, $400,000 Oaklawn Handicap is the primary supporting feature at Oaklawn.
Thu, 04/12/2012 - 12:42
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Union Rags had the first of his final three works leading up to the Kentucky Derby, and his last before departing his winter home at Palm Meadows, when breezing an easy but visually impressive half-mile in 48.32 seconds shortly after dawn Thursday.
Even though Hansen beat Union Rags and Creative Cause in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to secure the Eclipse Award for the division, and even though he scored a decisive victory from an outside post in the Gotham in his most recent start, Hansen still seemingly is dogged by doubts over whether he’s good enough, especially going 1 1/4 miles, to win the Kentucky Derby on May 5.
He was a fat 26-1 in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby future wager, closed at 9-1 in Pool 2 – which was the weekend of the Gotham – and was 8-1 in Pool 3, behind Union Rags, and the same price as Creative Cause.
I keep staring at my Hall of Fame ballot, not quite sure what to do. The 10 horses, trainers, and jockeys are all quite deserving. The rules say I can vote for all 10 or any of the 10.
Obviously, if I vote for all 10, I am actually not voting at all. So what to do?
Shouldn’t Calvin Borel automatically be in the Hall just for winning the Kentucky Derby three times in four years? That never happened before and won’t happen again – unless Calvin wins this year and next.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The dash for graded cash is on at Oaklawn Park.
The Arkansas Derby, which is the final $1 million prep for the Kentucky Derby, drew a field of 11 when entries were taken on Wednesday. And most in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile race will need a significant finish to advance on the road to Louisville.
Hansen was assigned post 4 as a heavy favorite in the biggest field in years for the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes, which will be run Saturday for the 88th time at Keeneland.
Thirteen 3-year-olds were entered in the 1 1/8-mile Polytrack race, the most since 14 went postward in 1974. Hansen, the nearly white colt who was the 2-year-old champion of 2011, will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez in his final prep for the May 5 Kentucky Derby.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – There has been one constant in the Arkansas Derby the last two years – Jon Court.
Court rode Line of David to victory in 2010 and last year won aboard Archarcharch. On Saturday, Court will be out to win an unprecedented third consecutive running of Oaklawn Park’s richest race when he teams with the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Optimizer.
“I love my chances,” said Court, 51. “I love the way the horse is training.”