Graded Stakes Spotlight: 2022 Arkansas Derby.

Omaha Beach (War Front) pulls ahead to win the 2019 Arkansas Derby.

Grade 1 Arkansas Derby: April 2nd, 2022. Post Time: 6:35 CST at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

Purse: $1,250,000

Distance: 1 1/8th mile

Surface: Dirt

Age: 3 year-olds

Here is the field for the 87th running of the G1 Arkansas Derby:

1. Kavod (Lea): (J) M. Murrill, (T) C. Hartman. 12; 3–1–0. Last out placed fourth in the G2 Rebel Stakes.
2. Chasing Time (Not This Time): (J) J. Lezcano, (T) S. Asmussen. 6;2–2–0. Last out placed fifth in the G2 Rebel Stakes.
3. Barber Road (Race Day): (J) R. Gutierrez, (T) J. Ortiz. 7; 2–3–1. Last out placed third in the G2 Rebel Stakes.
4. Doppelganger (Into Mischief): (J) J. Velazquez, (T) T. Yakteen. 3;1–1–0. Last out placed second in the G2 San Felipe Stakes.
5. Un Ojo (Laoban): (J) R. Vazquez, (T) R. Courville. 6;2–2–0. Last out won the G2 Rebel Stakes.
6. Secret Oath (Arrogate): (J) L. Contreras, (T) D. Lukas. 6; 4–0–1. Last out won the G3 Honeybee Stakes with a speed figure of 100.
7. Ben Diesel (Will Take Charge): (J) J. Court, (T) D. Stewart. 5; 1–0–1. Last out placed eighth in the G2 Rebel Stakes.
8. Cyberknife (Gun Runner): (J) F. Geroux, (T) B. Cox. 5; 2–2–0. Last out won an allowance optional claiming with a speed figure of 100.
9. We the People (Constitution): (J) F. Prat, (T) R. Brisset. 2; 2–0–0. Last out won an allowance optional claiming with a speed figure of 99.

Homestretch Handicapper’s Thoughts.

In every race, I like to isolate the favorite of the field and find the horses with the greatest chance to beat them. In this case, the favorite is ultimately Un Ojo, who has come back from a win in the G2 Rebel Stakes. He is the only one that has even attempted to run at the distance of a mile and an eighth, running a very impressive race in the G3 Withers Stakes, where he went from last to second.

I am going to throw in a curveball and say that I think We the People is one of the few in the field with a chance to beat the favorite. Yes, he has only ran twice so far in his career, but both starts have had over 90 speed figures with impressive turn of foot like many from the Constitution line.

Secondly, I like Cyberknife from the flourishing new sire, Gun Runner. This colt has shown he will fight for the front, last out winning an Allowance Optional Claiming race with a 100 speed figure. With a good trip, I like this horse could find himself nose to nose with the front runner.

The filly of the field, Secret Oath, is one to watch but I am not convinced she is the ‘magic filly’ that many tout she is. Her win in the G3 Honeybee Stakes was impressive, but was the rest of the field? She is talented, I am just unsure she will be able to handle a field of colts and the added distance — though I would love to be proven wrong, especially with a D. Wayne Lukas trainee.

In regards to the trifecta, I could see Barber Road and Chasing Time to be close by, but it is tough to foresee whether they can handle the mile and an eighth. All in all the field is a tough one, with talented horses that continue to improve with each start.

Homestretch Handicapper’s Final Picks:

1. We the People (Constitution) ML Odds: 7/2
2. Cyberknife (Gun Runner) ML Odds: 8–1
3. Secret Oath (Arrogate) ML Odds: 5/2

Brief History of the Arkansas Derby:

The inaugural year for the Arkansas Derby was in 1936, with a purse of $5,000 — as of 2022, the purse is $1.25 million .The only year it did not run was in 1945, but was split into two different divisions in both 1960 and 2020.

It has been run in April at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs Arkansas since it’s start, except for in 2020 when it was moved to May because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Notable winners include: Temperance Hill (1980), Sunny’s Halo (1983), Smarty Jones (2004), Afleet Alex (2005) and American Pharoah (2015).

As of 2021, the speed record is held by Althea (Alydar) for going one mile and an eight in 1:46.80. In comparison, within the last two decades, the only one to come close is Nadal (Blame) with a time of 1:48. 34 in 2020.

The most wins by a jockey for the Arkansas Derby is Pat Day, winning in 1986, 1987 and 1997. The most winnings for a trainer is Todd Pletcher, with five wins total.

Comment below who you think will win this years Arkansas Derby!