The $1.5 million occasion will probably be held Saturday at Oaklawn Park. arkansas derbythe observe’s fourth and remaining qualifying factors prep race for the Could 2 Kentucky Derby, offered by Woodford Reserve. The 1 1/8-mile race will award a complete of 200 factors to the highest 5 finishers, distributed within the order 100-50-25-15-10, to safe a spot within the beginning gate for the Kentucky Derby.
The Arkansas Derby has develop into a promising prelude to this century. Eight horses popping out of the race have been educated to win races for the roses, 5 of which have occurred since 2004, most lately Mystic Dan, who completed third within the 2024 Arkansas Derby after which gained the Kentucky Derby by a nostril. Three Arkansas Derby winners have gained the Kentucky Derby in the identical 12 months: Sonny’s Halo in 1983, Smarty Jones in 2004, and eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015.
90th The Arkansas Derby was a draw with 9 horses (decreased to eight on account of a reported harm to Napoleon Solo). This group is led by Silent Tactic, who gained the Southwest Stakes throughout Oak Garden, and Renegade, who heads to Oak Garden after successful the Sam F. Davis Stakes in Florida. The race will probably be broadcast dwell on FS1 as a part of the “America’s Day on the Races” program, in addition to dwell on FanDuel TV.
Learn under for all of the Arkansas Derby contenders and playing insights.
1. Redland Rebels (Morning line odds 15-1)
Jockey: Keith Asmussen
coach: Patrick Biancone
Proprietor: Calypso Horse Racing Stables 2022
Work historical past: 4 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 three innings
Profession revenue: $104,500
Prime numbers for equal base velocity: 90
Kentucky Derby factors: 10
Pedigree: Uncle Chuck – Kombat Cat, by D’wildcat
shade: darkish bay or brown
Working fashion: pacesetter
evaluation: This Florida gelding will probably be one of many pacesetters within the Arkansas Derby if he finally ships to Oak Garden. He’s cross-entered into Saturday’s Curlin Florida Derby Introduced by Hill & Dale Farm at Gulfstream Park in Xalapa, one other 200-point Kentucky Derby prelude, however will reportedly compete in Arkansas from Patrick Biancone’s house base of Florida. After two sturdy begins in grass route races, Redland Rebels switched to a dust course for the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby on March 7 and set the early tempo by breaking from an impost place within the 1 1/16-mile race. Heading house with a brief benefit, he answered the problem of three horses, together with the winner, The Puma, however drained within the remaining push and completed in 4th place. Given this outcome and his pedigree, the 1/16 mile stretch within the Arkansas Derby could appear an excessive amount of for the Redland Rebels (the Florida Derby can also be run at 1 1/8 miles). He will probably be a post-time lengthy shot, however ought to make an influence on the race if he makes the journey to Oak Garden as anticipated.
2. Silence ways (5-2)
Jockey: Christian Torres
coach: mark cass
Proprietor: John Oxley
Work historical past: 5 begins – 2 wins – 3 seconds – 3 0 occasions
Profession revenue: $774,422
Prime numbers for equal base velocity: 103
Kentucky Derby factors: 50
Pedigree: Tacitus – Magical Signal, by Gunrunner
shade: bay
Working fashion: close by
evaluation: Silent Tactic is already one of many favorites for the 152 Kentucky Derby, and a win within the Arkansas Derby would additional improve his standing. He efficiently transitioned to racing on grime after being transported to Oak Garden from an all-weather race at Woodbine in 2025 (1st and 2nd in two begins). He completed second within the Smarty Jones Stakes, dominated the Southwest Stakes, and ran nicely within the Insurgent Stakes, ending second by a nostril to the category president. All of Oaklawn’s Kentucky Derby lead-ups are run at 1 1/16 miles, and given Silent Tactic’s pedigree, he’ll benefit from the added distance within the Arkansas Derby. He is a deep nearer who advantages from a quick, early tempo, nevertheless it’s price noting that at Smarty Jones he picked up a really gradual tempo and completed second, and at Southwest he ran wild by three and 1 / 4 lengths at a average tempo. The slim loss at Insurgent does not harm him within the slightest, and all indicators level to a different top-two end on Saturday, regardless that he already has sufficient qualifying factors to most likely qualify for the Kentucky Derby. Jockey Cristian Torres continues to journey Silent Tactic after using him in his final three begins on the racetrack, trying to give Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse his third Arkansas Derby win and his second consecutive victory since Sandman final 12 months.
3. Blackout Time (6-1)
Jockey: brian hernandez jr.
coach: Ken McPeek
Proprietor: BR Thoroughbred, Lance Gasaway, Magdalena Racing
Work historical past: 4 begins – 1 win – 2 seconds – third place 0
Profession revenue: $264,691
Prime numbers for equal base velocity: 94
Kentucky Derby factors: 15
Pedigree: Not this time – magnificence salons, the elusive high quality
shade: darkish bay or brown
Working fashion: stalker
evaluation: Blackout time for the appropriate to take part within the Kentucky Derby is on the brink. The offspring of the new stallion Not This Time returned from a four-month layoff and completed a cushty fourth within the Insurgent Stakes at Oaklawn on March 1st. He established place early on in third place behind Litmus Check and eventual winner Class President, however was unable to rally when requested by Brian Hernandez Jr., ending eight lengths behind dueling Class President and Silent Tactic and two and three-quarters behind Litmus Check. He might want to make important enhancements to complete not less than third within the Arkansas Derby and maintain his homeowners, together with coach Ken McPeak’s Magdalena Racing, alive with Derby hopes. The third would give Blackout Time a complete of 40 derby factors, placing him borderline for securing a beginning gate spot primarily based on his current historical past. Blackout Time was some of the promising Derby candidates final fall after scoring a dominant first win at Ellis Park and ending second to eventual champion 2-year-old colt Ted Nophy within the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He definitely deserves to enhance on his second 3-year-old, and his two coaching periods at Oaklawn since Insurgent have been glorious.
4. Bricklin (20-1)
Jockey: Jaime Torres
coach: Rodolphe Brissett
Proprietor: think about racing
Work historical past: 5 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession revenue: $141,068
Prime numbers for equal base velocity: 84
Kentucky Derby factors: 6
Pedigree: Nyquist – Majestic Vixen, Majesticperfection
shade: darkish bay or brown
Working fashion: press tempo/stalker
evaluation: After a visit to New Mexico, the long-shot prospect returns to the identical observe the place he gained for 3-year-old colts in his first Kentucky Derby try (although he’s cross-entered within the 1-mile Sizzling Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds at Oak Garden on March 26 and will run in that slot as a substitute). After three new begins in 2025, together with a dash win on the Horseshoe Indianapolis and an enormous sixth place within the 1 1/16-mile Avenue Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs, Bricklin entered the 1-mile, 2-turn allowance choice race at Oak Garden on January 3, competing for early tempo and successful by 3 1/2 lengths. He then headed to Sunland Park for the Sunland Park Derby (1 1/16 miles) on February 15, and as a substitute of combating for the early lead, he settled right into a place working behind pacesetter and favourite Specific Child, ending third, 5 and 1 / 4 lengths behind pacer Pavlovian. Pavlovian returned with a robust second-place end in final week’s Twispiers.com Louisiana Derby, however Bricklin’s Equibase velocity quotient was modest within the Sunland Park Derby and he must run one of the best race of his profession to have an opportunity to journey within the Arkansas Derby. On the optimistic aspect, Bricklin’s coaching at Oaklawn for the primary time for the reason that Sunland Park Derby has been strong, and new jockey Jamie Torres is more likely to be keen to journey him out of the beginning gate. Discover that this runner is additional ahead on Saturday than he was at his final begin.
5. Taptastic (20-1)
Jockey: Eric Amussen
coach: Steve Asmussen
Proprietor: Winchell Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Stables
Work historical past: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 second – 0 third
Profession revenue: $66,000
Prime numbers for equal base velocity: 80
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Tapestry – by Valadorna, Carlin
shade: grey or roan
Working fashion: stalker
evaluation: Final week, Rising Market gained the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby in only one begin, incomes him a run to the Kentucky Derby. May this well-bred stallion do the identical? Taptastic made his first profession begin lower than three weeks later in his first race held at Oak Garden on March 8 at a mile and about two corners. The 4th or fifth favourite within the race, he raced towards simply 4 different horses on a muddy observe, following the early tempo alongside the within after which accelerating within the straight to win by a size and a half. Now, Corridor of Fame coach and four-time Arkansas Derby winner Steve Asmussen will probably be fast to show Taptastic again within the huge moments, however he’ll want to enhance his debut 80 Equibase Pace Determine by about 20 factors to have any probability of an upset. The climate forecast for Saturday in Sizzling Springs, Arkansas is looking for sunshine, so Taptastic will not be capable to repeat his first win. His pedigree, then again, is out of Valadorna, who sired the main sire Tapit, and is a daughter of one other Curlin stamina sire who gained the graded stakes, and is superb for distance as he ran his greatest across the second nook. He’s a wild card entrant within the Arkansas Derby and will develop and compete for a top-three spot, or end final on account of lack of expertise.
6. Renegade (3-2)
Jockey: Airado Ortiz Jr.
coach: tod plecher
Proprietor: Robert Rowe, Lawana Rowe, Lepore Stables
Work historical past: 4 begins – 1 win – 2 seconds – 1 third
Profession revenue: $199,000
Prime numbers for equal base velocity: 100
Kentucky Derby factors: twenty 5
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Spice Is Good, by Carlin
shade: bay
Working fashion: stalker/nearer
evaluation: morning line Regardless of being formally winless in three begins, favourite Renegade completed 2024 as a promising Kentucky Derby contender, validating that call with a dominant victory to open his 3-year-old season within the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February seventh. The well-bred Into Mischief stallion doggedly trailed in eighth of 9 horses early within the 1 1/16-mile race, then burst by the far flip to maneuver into the straight and transfer as much as close to the entrance. He overtook long-shot Wayne’s Rowe, who held the tempo, and gained by 3 3/4 lengths, adopted by Esmark Tampa Bay Derby winner The Puma, who took third place. The Renegades had already established their popularity in two video games towards the extremely rated Paladins final fall. He defeated his opponent within the first race of the mile to take first place, however was disqualified and completed second, then completed second to Paladin within the 1 1/8-mile Remsen Stakes, each held at Aqueduct. The Sam F. Davis racer has proven encouraging enchancment since getting into the race after a two-month break, and if he can take one other step ahead in Saturday’s Arkansas Derby after a seven-week break, he’ll be a part of the ranks of Oak Garden winners and be among the many high two or three Kentucky Derby candidates in most polls. Champion jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., using Renegade for Sam F. Davis, traveled to journey once more on Saturday relatively than journey Florida Derby favourite Commandment at his house course, Gulfstream Park. Jockey Todd Pletcher holds the file for many Arkansas Derby wins with 5, and has probability of successful a sixth towards a area of litmus-test colts educated by rival Bob Baffert.
Is that this your first time horse racing? Let me clarify…
Morning line: In horse racing, every racetrack hires an oddsmaker to estimate what assist a horse will obtain from bettors in a pari-mutuel pool that collects bets from everybody betting on a specific race. These estimates are referred to as morning line odds and are normally introduced a number of days earlier than the race is run. Morning line odds are the place to begin for when a race turns into obtainable for betting and can change as bettors start putting bets. Ultimate odds can differ considerably from morning line odds by the point the race begins.
7. Napoleon Solo (scarred)
Jockey: kendrick carmouche
coach: Chad Summers
Proprietor: gold sq.
Work historical past: 3 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 third place
Profession revenue: $330,520
Prime numbers for equal base velocity: 99
Kentucky Derby factors: 15
Pedigree: Liam’s Map – Atomic Blonde by Scat Daddy
shade: grey or roan
Working fashion: pacesetter/push the tempo
evaluation: On March 23, Gold Sq. Racing proprietor Al Gold informed David Grenning of the Every day Racing Kind that 2025 Champagne Stakes winner Napoleon Solo will miss the Arkansas Derby and can as a substitute run within the Wooden Memorial Stakes Introduced by Resorts World On line casino in preparation for the ultimate Kentucky Derby to be held at Water Duct on April 4.
8. Exosome (20-1)
Jockey: Adam Besitsa
coach: kelsey danner
Proprietor: NBS steady
Work historical past: 5 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 occasions 3 occasions
Profession revenue: $145,195
Prime numbers for equal base velocity: 80
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Sweet Journey – Unimaginable Grace, Medaglia d’Oro
shade: bay
Working fashion: stalker
evaluation: The main contender heads into the Arkansas Derby coming off a game-neck victory within the 1 1/16-mile Allowance Choice Declare Race on Feb. 28 at Oak Garden. From the start, he picked up the tempo with 3 and 4 wides and took the lead within the straight line, then jumped out from 6 broad, however nonetheless completed in place and held off the highest stage of recognition. The victory adopted two disappointing efforts in his earlier 2026 begins, together with a sixth-place end within the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte Stakes on the Fairgrounds in January and a fifth-place end within the 1-mile allowance choice race at Turfway Park in early February. The stallion, who gained the 1 1/16 mile by a half size in his first race in October 2025, is a son of high stallion Sweet Journey and is bred to run the mile and eighth with a feminine pedigree that features a number of stakes-winning routers. That being stated, he must run quicker to have any probability of pulling an upset towards Renegades or Silent Tactical Saturday, so from a playing standpoint, utilizing him in a trifecta or superfecta wager turns into a extra real looking proposition.
9. Litmus take a look at paper (5-1)
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta
coach: bob baffert
Proprietor: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Decided Stables, Golconda Steady, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan
Work historical past: 6 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 2/3
Profession revenue: $440,188
Prime numbers for equal base velocity: 105
Kentucky Derby factors: 34
Pedigree: Nyquist – Examine laborious, by Malibu Moon
shade: bay
Working fashion: press tempo/stalker
evaluation: The litmus take a look at is shaping up as one of the best wager to tug off a gentle upset towards the Renegades and Silent Ways within the Arkansas Derby. That is as a result of he is working as quick because the earlier favourite and has engaging morning line odds. To not point out, he’s educated by five-time Arkansas Derby winner Bob Baffert. The Nyquist colt had a profitable junior season, successful two of his 5 begins, together with the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity to shut out 2025. He additionally completed fourth within the 2025 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile sponsored by TAA, shedding by simply 1 3/4 lengths to eventual champion 2-year-old colt Ted Nophy (presently out of motion). Winter favourite Kentucky Derby. In his 3-year-old debut, Litmus Check set a strong tempo from the beginning within the 1 1/16-mile Insurgent S on March 1 at Oak Garden, however drained within the straights and completed third behind Class President and Silent Tactic within the head-to-head race. After incomes two triple-digit Equibase velocity numbers to shut out 2025, he has regressed to 91 at Insurgent and might want to get again to his previous type to win on Saturday. That is not out of the query, as he expects to enhance in his second begin of the 12 months and his first two exercises at Oak Garden for the reason that Rebels had been strong. Specializing in first-time jockey Francisco Arrieta, certainly one of Oaklawn’s main jockeys, this time he is off the tempo of the early litmus take a look at however inside vary of potential leaders Redland Rebels and Bricklin. he may have his personal blinker After sporting it for all earlier races, he took it off for the Arkansas Derby and hopes this may assist him chill out.
First time racing? Let me clarify…
Blinkers are cups positioned on the skin of every horse’s eye earlier than a race. They are often minimize to completely different lengths and are used to restrict the horse’s field of regard. This ideally improves your horse’s efficiency by permitting him to give attention to what’s in entrance of him relatively than what’s behind him. The coach’s choice to take away the blinkers could also be to permit the horse to chill out within the early phases and higher perceive his environment in the course of the race.
