Horse Racing Trader’s Tips: Oaklawn Park – Saturday 2nd May
Published:
Racing expert Mark Underhill gives his verdict ahead of theArkansas Derby
Fans of Stateside racing will havetheir eyes on Oaklawn Park on Saturday evening, with a 14-race card to look forwardto.
With the Kentucky Derby now postponeduntil September, Oaklawn Park have rescheduled the Grade 1 Arkansas Derbyto fill the gap in the calendar.
However, the nine-furlong dirt contestfor three-year-olds will have a different format this year. It’s been splitinto two divisions, each of which carries a £500,000 purse as well asqualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.
Bob Baffert has won this race twicebefore, with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah first past the post in 2015.He trains the favourite in both divisions this time around.
This year the nine-furlong dirt contest for three-year-olds has been split into two divisions with both carrying a $500,000 purse and valuable points towards Kentucky Derby qualification.
Baffert’s unbeaten Charlatan looksset to be sent off odds-on from stall one at 23:29. Charlatan only has twominor wins at Santa Anita, but the manner of those victories really stood out.He scored by 5 3/4 lengths on his debut,then won by 10 1/4 lengths last time.
His main rival in the market is ToddPletcher’s Gouverneur Morris who boasts a record of two wins fromfour career starts, as well as a second-placed finish in the Grade 1 ClaiborneBreeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October.
Set to go off at 00:43 on Sundaymorning, the second division of the Arkansas Derby looks the stronger of thetwo divisions on paper.
Baffert’s unbeaten colt Nadal isbidding to follow March’s win by 3/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes here.He looks set to be sent off favourite. Barfett also saw American Pharoah winthe Rebel Stakes before going on to win the Arkansas Stakes in 2015 – willhistory repeat itself?
Competition could come from StormThe Court, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but has beenbeaten on both of his starts this season, including a loss to Nadal inFebruary’s Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. A stornger challengecould come from King Guillermo who was a surprise winner by 43/4-length when last seen in March’s Grade 2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.
The Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap is the otherfeature race on Oaklawn Park’s valuable card. It’s due off at 00:04 and wecould be in for a great contest – eight of the 14 declared runners have won ontheir most recent start.
John Sadler’s Combatant wastriumphant in the Santa Anita Handicap on his last start, which took him overthe $1 million mark in career prize money.
Mr Freeze, whofinished second in the Pegasus World Cup, should be near the head of themarket, as should Improbable, a Grade 1 winner as a two-year-old.He could become Bob Baffert’s first winner of this race, though a wide drawdoesn’t help his chances.
All odds and markets correct as of dateof publication
