$1M Arkansas Derby April 12 at Oaklawn Park

Posted on Thursday, April 10th, 2008

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 $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:

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

Zayat Stables’ Z Fortune is coming off a 5th place finish in the March 15 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park. The son of Siphon and Steve Asmussen trainee, Z Fortune, made his first two starts of the year at the Fair Grounds, and won the Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) on January 12 prior to finishing second to Pyro, one of the leading 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders, in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) on February 9.

Horse trainer Steve Asmussen also sends out Ablaze With Spirit and King’s Silver Son in the Arkansas Derby.

Gayego, trained by Paulo Lobo, was made the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Arkansas Derby after his 2nd place finish to Georgie Boy in last month’s San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park where Gayego finished ahead of Bob Black Jack, who came back to run a strong second to Colonel John in last Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).

Dogwood Stable’s Blackberry Road enters off a 4th place finish in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) on March 8 at the Fair Grounds. Jockey Calvin Borel will ride Blackberry Road on Saturday for the Arkansas Derby. Calvin Borel was also aboard Blackberry Road in his runner-up finish behind Z Fortune in the Lecomte Stakes and a 5th place finish in the Risen Star Stakes.

In his most recent start, Liberty Bull, trained by Tom Amoss for owner Kenneth Maier, won the WinStar Derby on March 16 at Sunland Park. The Holy Bull colt, Liberty Bull, also won the Smarty Jones Stakes on January 21 at Oaklawn Park.

The Arkansas Derby is the 11th race scheduled for 5:44 pm in Oaklawn Park’s April 12 horse racing program.

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