The Road to the Kentucky Derby passes through Arkansas on Saturday, as the million dollar, Grade 2 Rebel Stakes takes place at Oaklawn Park. A competitive field is expected to line up for this 1 1/16 mile contest. Along with purse money the Winner will also earn 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The race was inaugurated in 1961 as the Rebel Handicap, and was changed … Continue reading Rebel Stakes Historic Talent
The $1.25 million, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park offers Kentucky Derby contenders the opportunity to compete for the top-level points (100-40-20-10) at a distance of a 1 1/8 miles. With the Run for the Roses less than six weeks away, this will be the last chance for the horses in this field to gather Derby qualifying points. There will be an urgency about Winning points … Continue reading Who Wins The Arkansas Derby?
By 1988, D. Wayne Lukas had established himself as one of America’s top trainers. The Kentucky Derby, however, had eluded him; he had not yet Won it despite having 12 starters since 1981. WINNING COLORS by being Victorious in the 1988 Santa Anita Oaks, established herself as a Derby prospect. She crushed the competition in a dominant gate-to-wire performance in the Oaks Winning by eight lengths. … Continue reading Fillies, Preps, & The Derby
Oaklawn Park will host its final Kentucky Derby prep race Saturday with the running of the $1million dollar, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. A field of 3-year-olds will travel 1 ⅛ miles on dirt in search of Derby qualifying points. The Winner will get 100 points, while the runner-up will receive 40, the 3rd-place finisher 20, and the 4th-place finisher 10. The race was first held in … Continue reading Arkansas Derby = Talent
There are no Derby prep races this weekend. But, the 100-40-20-10 point preps are at hand- eight races compressed into 15 days, beginning next Saturday (03/26). As long as they are eligible (aka not Baffert horses), the Winners are mathematically assured of berths in the starting gate in the Run For The Roses. The 2nd-place horses have a good shot at getting there as well. … Continue reading Where The Winners Prep
Calvin Borel isn’t the only Hall Of Fame jockey traipsing about the Oaklawn Park barn area these days. Gary Stevens, who permanently retired from riding in 2018, returned to the Hot Springs track December 1st to begin laying the groundwork for the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meet as the agent for Southern California-based jockeys Geovanni Franco and Tiago Pereira. Stevens, 58, said he represented Corey Nakatani during … Continue reading Mr. Gary Stevens
CONCERT TOUR enters the Grade 1, $1 million dollar Arkansas Derby as a deserving favorite. Though it should be noted, he is not a monster on final times or speed figures, but that monster figure might appear on Saturday. The Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park is Race 12 on a card of 13 with a scheduled Post Time of 7:40. Here then is a look … Continue reading Arkansas Derby Winner…
