Gayego held off Z Fortune to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby , one of the final major prep races for the 2008 Kentucky Derby, on Saturday, April 12, at Oaklawn Park.

Solidifying his credentials as one of the legitimate 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders, Gayego was racing on a dirt track for the first time after running on Santa Anita Park’s synthetic surface in his last three races.

Trained by Paulo Lobo, Gayego paid $6.40, $4.40 and $3.80. Z Fortune, conditioned by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Robby Albarado, paid $7.40 and $6. Tres Borrachos under jockey Tyler Baze returned $14.80 to show.

The $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday, April 12, at Oaklawn Park attracted a large field of 14 three-year-old horses wanting the $600,000 winner’s share to boost their graded earnings for a coveted spot on the 2008 Kentucky Derby. The full field of the Arkansas Derby with jockeys and weight includes:

1. Victory Pete under jockey Clinton Potts, 118 lbs.
2. Tres Borrachos under jockey Tyler Baze, 118 lbs.
3. Shekinah under jockey Christopher Emigh, 118 lbs.
4. King’s Silver Son under jockey Luis Quinonez, 118 lbs.
5. Gayego under jockey Mike Smith, 122 lbs.
6. Isabull under jockey Timothy Doocy, 118 lbs.
7. My Pal Charlie under jockey Julien Leparoux, 118 lbs.
8. Blackberry Road under jockey Calvin Borel, 118 lbs.
9. Liberty Bull under jockey Eusebio Razo, Jr., 122 lbs.
10. Golden Yank under jockey Larry Sterling, Jr., 122 lbs.
11. Ablaze With Spirit under jockey M. Clifton Berry, 122 lbs.
12. Z Fortune under jockey Robby Albarado, 122 lbs.
13. Indian Sun under jockey Richard Migliore, 118 lbs.
14. Jazz in the Park under jockey Miguel Mena, 118 lbs.

With 3 weeks left before the 2008 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, 3-year-old horses aspiring for the Triple Crown are scrambling to earn enough graded stakes money to be eligible as one of the 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders.

The only unbeaten horse in the field of 11 3-year-olds, Denis of Cork won the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) by 2 1/4 lengths Monday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

The one-mile Southwest Stakes serves as the first stop of the Triple Crown trail in Oaklawn Park leading to the 2008 Kentucky Derby.

A bay son of Harlan’s Holiday, trained by David Caroll for owners Mrs. and Mrs. William Warren Jr., Denis of Cork stretched his unbeaten record to 3-for-3. Denis of Cork covered 1 mile in 1:37 4/5 over a fast track, and paid $11.60, $5.40 and $3.60 as the third choice.

Forty-two-year-old horse trainer, Steve Asmussen, who entered Sunday horse racing 2 wins short of the milestone, records his 4,000th career win with J J’s Bud at Oaklawn Park.

Steve Asmussen won his first race at Fair Grounds when 3-year-old colt Far East Gold won the 5th race under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. A little more than five minutes later, 3-year-old gelding J J’s Bud, ridden by Luis Quinonez, broke his maiden in the 3rd race at Oaklawn Park giving Steve Asmussen his memorable score.

As a horse trainer, Steve Asmussen has so far had his most successful year in 2007 with Curlin who captured the Arkansas Derby (gr. II), ran 3rd in the Kentuckucky Derby (gr. I), victorious in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), placed in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and then went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Curlin later won the Horse of the Year honors.

Live racing returns to Oaklawn Park at Hot Springs, Arkansas on Friday. There will be nine races on Friday with a CLASSIX carryover pool at $21,683. Saturday’s weekly feature will be the $50,000 Dixie Belle Stakes, for three-year-old fillies at six furlongs.
2008 Oaklawn Park Stakes Schedule

Date
Horse Racing Stakes
Conditions
Purse
Distance

18-Jan
Dixieland
3-Year-Olds
$50,000
5 1/2 Furlongs

19-Jan
American Beauty
4-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies and [...]

Live racing in Oaklawn Park at Hot Springs, Arkansas kicks off January 18 as their 56-Day Live 2008 Thoroughbred Meet gets under way. The historic facility, which has a traditional dirt surface, first hosted racing in 1905.
Racing at Oaklawn Park in 2008 starts with a four-day weekend, highlighted by three-year-old racing through, through Monday, Martin [...]

Oaklawn Park will run its 56-day race meet from Jan. 19-April 14. It features 27 stakes headed by the $1-million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) on closing day. The total stakes schedule is valued at $4.5 million with record daily average purses of $290,000, up from $275,000 a day this year because of increased revenue from Instant Racing.