Study Guide: 2024 Arkansas Derby
Mar 25, 2024
Timberlake wins the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography / Credit to Renee Torbit)
A deep and talented 10-horse field has entered Saturday's $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/8-mile race is the richest Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier in North American and awards Kentucky Derby (G1) qualification points to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 split.
Proven Grade 1 winners Timberlake and Muth and Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race winners Mystik Dan and Liberal Arts are among the accomplished horses in this year's Arkansas Derby. Let's check out the full field:
Note: Since trainer Bob Baffert is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc., horses trained by Baffert are ineligible to earn Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points.
Will Take It
Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Willis Horton Racing and Whisper Hill Farm
Breeder: Whisper Hill Farm
Trainer: Eddie Milligan Jr.
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta
Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing second in an Oaklawn Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $25,438
Sire: Tapit
Dam: Lady Take Charge
Color: Bay
Will Take It was beaten only a nose in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Oaklawn last month, but his 0-for-3 lifetime record and career-best 89 Brisnet Speed rating leave him as a longshot while stepping up against Grade 1 company.
Timberlake
Timberlake winning the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm
Breeder: St. Elias Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Top Speed Rating: (103) when finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $1,094,350
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Pin Up
Color: Bay
Following a productive juvenile campaign that produced a win in the Champagne (G1), a second in the Hopeful (G1), and a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Timberlake kicked off 2024 with a two-length score in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn. With a trio of Brisnet Speed ratings in the 97-103 range under his belt, Timberlake is one of the fastest horses in the Arkansas Derby field. If he moves forward in his second run of the season, he'll be tough to beat.
Dimatic
Dimatic (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Cristian Torres
Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing fifth in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $117,578
Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Time to Tap
Color: Chestnut
Dimatic broke his maiden racing 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn, but finished fifth by 7 1/4 lengths when facing Timberlake in the Rebel. He'll need improvement to challenge against even tougher competition in the Arkansas Derby.
Time for Truth
Time for Truth wins at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Harry T. Rosenblum and Cheyenne Stable
Breeder: Dominique Damico
Trainer: Ron Moquett
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning his debut at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $182,250
Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Shape Shifter
Color: Bay
Time for Truth showed promise in his first two starts sprinting, then stretched out over 1 1/16 miles to win a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn. The son of 2019 Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach still has upside and may vie for a top-five finish even while stepping up in class.
Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts wins the Street Sense at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 3
Owner: Stephen Ferraro and Evan Ferraro
Breeder: Stephen Ferraro and Evan Ferraro
Trainer: Robert Medina
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $294,825
Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Ismene
Color: Gray/roan
Liberal Arts has started three times on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing third in the Iroquois (G3) and first in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs before kicking off 2024 with a third-place finish in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn. Like Timberlake, Liberal Arts is eligible to improve in his second run of the season, opening the door for another top-three finish.
Informed Patriot
Informed Patriot (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 3
Owner: J. Kirk and Judy Robison
Breeder: Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Whisper Hill Farm
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing third in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $146,640
Sire: Hard Spun
Dam: Yawkey Way
Color: Dark bay/brown
Informed Patriot has placed a couple of times on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, including when third to Liberal Arts in the Street Sense, but he faltered to fifth place in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) last time out. His career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating looks a bit light against Saturday's field.
Muth
Muth wins the San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park (Photo by Benoit Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: Bob Baffert
Trainer: Don Alberto Corporation
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Top Speed Rating: (105) when finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $716,600
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Hoppa
Color: Bay
The only Arkansas Derby entrant who has run faster than Timberlake on the Brisnet Speed rating scale is Muth, who threw down a 105 when finishing second (ahead of Timberlake) in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). He'd previously won the American Pharoah (G1) with a 100 Brisnet Speed rating, and he started 2024 with a comfortable victory in the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita, so Muth has to be viewed as a formidable win threat in his first start outside of California.
Just Steel
Just Steel (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Susie Raisher)
Start(s): 10
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 1
Owner: BC Stables
Breeder: Summerhill Farm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Keith Asmussen
Top Speed Rating: (97) when breaking his maiden at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $462,045
Sire: Justify
Dam: Irish Lights
Color: Bay
Just Steel finished second in the Smarty Jones S. and Southwest on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Oaklawn Park, then ran below form when fading to seventh in the Rebel last time out. The son of Triple Crown winner Justify will need a rebound if he's going to factor in the Arkansas Derby, which marks his toughest test to date.
Mystik Dan
Mystik Dan wins the Southwest S. (G3) (Photo by Coady Photography / Credit to Kurtis Coady)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, and Daniel Hamby III
Breeder: Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4GRacing
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $510,110
Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Ma'am
Color: Bay
Mystik Dan was tons the best in the Southwest, rating along the inside before exploding through to win by eight lengths with a 101 Brisnet Speed rating. But the track was muddy and favorable to inside runners, so Mystik Dan will have to prove he can replicate that tremendous performance over a (presumably) dry and fair track in the Arkansas Derby.
Imperial Gun
Imperial Gun wins at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud
Breeder: Adrian Regan and Fergus Galvin
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Emmanuel Esquivel
Top Speed Rating: (87) when breaking his maiden at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $82,250
Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Take a Memo
Color: Dark bay/brown
Imperial Gun was much the best in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Oaklawn Park last December, winning by 5 3/4 lengths. But he failed to factor when fourth in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer over the same track and distance on Feb. 24, and he'll need to improve upon his career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating to challenge in the Arkansas Derby.
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