Derby News

A full field of 14, headlined by Lawyer Ron, were entered in Saturday's $1 million 1 1/8 mile Arkansas Derby (GII), the marquee race at Oaklawn Park for 3-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby (GI) trail.

Lawyer Ron, trained by Bob Holthus and ridden by John McKee, will break from post five of fourteen. A win Saturday would send him to Kentucky as one of the top three Derby contenders, along with Brother Derek and Barbaro. With five victories in a row, four of those in stakes, leading up to Saturday's race, the son of Langfuhr figures to be the post-time favorite, and was installed a solid 7-5 on the morning line. Since his convincing win in the Rebel Stakes (GIII) here last month, he has trained splendidly, seemingly getting better with each workout. Critics note that his speed figures (he has only one race where he posted above 100) say that he is vulnerable, but, in the Arkansas Derby, he faces a group that has no other standouts numbers-wise.

"I’m delighted with the draw," said Holthus. "If Lawyer Ron wins, he’ll be one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby, and that’s a lifelong dream."

Besides the favorite, only two other horses, Private Vow (5-1) and High Cotton (8-1) are below double digits. Private Vow, trained by Steve Asmussen, had a great 2-year-old season, with a pair of Grade two wins to his credit. His lone start this year, in the Rebel, saw him finish a weakening seventh after making a decent move on the turn. Without a doubt he should be in much better shape for this race, but at the same time needs to prove himself worthy to continue on to Louisville.

"He has every reason to move forward," said Asmussen. "He got tired (in the Rebel), blew hard after the race, and has come back and has trained good."

Like Lawyer Ron, Private Vow has turned in two swift workouts over the Oaklawn oval since the Rebel. Shaun Bridgmohan retains the mount.

High Cotton comes to Oaklawn off a win in the Rushaway on the Lane's End Stakes (GII) undercard at Turfway Park. That was the first stakes win for the Todd Pletcher trainee that was twice stakes placed at two. Drawing post three should help; the son of Dixie Union has run his best races when he gets to the front early. The Arkansas Derby will be his third race after the layoff, when horses often fire their best race.

In an ironic twist, the Lane's End upset winner, With a City, is a much bigger price (15-1) than High Cotton. While With a City was a big surprise at Turfway, it was also a bit of a shock when he was entered here. His connections had originally planned to train straight into the Kentucky Derby, but after doing so well after the Lane's End, owner Ron Peltz and trainer Mike Maker decided he was ready to race now. Brice Blanc, who rode With a City for the first time in the Lane's End, will ride.

There are a few challengers that will be trying to turn the tables on Lawyer Ron. Steppenwolfer, worse than third only once in seven starts, was third and second, respectively, to the favorite in the Rebel and Southwest Stakes. A natural closer, Steppenwolfer should get the needed pace scenario to set up his late run but could get compromised by the big field. Red Raymond, also trained by Holthus, Has also finished behind his stablemate twice this year. He is another closer that will need racing luck, but has the style that makes him look like he will relish the added distance. Well Said, an impressive allowance winner earlier this meet, was an even fourth in the Rebel. His best races have come when he is fairly close to the early pace, which was not the case in the Rebel. Nob Hill Deelite was well-beaten in the Rebel, his first race outside of Louisiana state-bred company, where he was clearly dominant. Film Fortune, still a maiden after six attempts, actually ran a decent race in the Rebel to be fifth after encountering trouble at the top of the stretch.

The $1 million purse drew several shippers in search of the big money. New Joysey Jeff comes from California. With only a maiden win to his credit, he was most recently sixth in Santa Anita's San Felipe (GII) behind A.P Warrior. Jealous Profit also comes in from the west coast. He broke his maiden March 18 in his only start this year, but was third in both the Del Mar Futurity (GII) won by Stevie Wonderboy and the Norfolk (GII) to Brother Derek. Simon Pure had the lead for the first half of the San Felipe, but tired to finish seventh. He did beat Arkansas Derby foe Film Fortune by 4-plus lengths for his lone victory to date. Superfly will try to keep two-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Nick Zito's hopes alive for the big race. A grand looking son of Fusaichi Pegasus, Superfly is winless in three starts in 2006.

The locally-based Sayhellotolarry rounds out the field. A winner of two straight at Oaklawn, this will be his first stakes race. A fairly quick horse from the gate, he was unfortunate to draw the far outside post in the field of 14.

The Arkansas Derby will be the ninth race on the card and will be shown live , along with Keeneland's Blue Grass (GI) on ABC from 5-6 p.m. ET. Due to the configuration of Oaklawn's tote system, there are only twelve betting interests in the Arkansas Derby. New Joysey Jeff, Nob Hill Deelite and Film Fortune will be part of the mutuel field as a single betting interest.

The field (with riders), in post position order:

1 New Joysey Jeff (Jose Valdivia Jr)
2 Steppenwolfer (Robby Albarado)
3 High Cotton (Christopher De Carlo)
4 With a City (Brice Blanc)
5 Lawyer Ron (John McKee)
6 Well Said (James Graham)
7 Jealous Profit (Aaron Gryder)
8 Private Vow (Shaun Bridgmohan)
9 Red Raymond (Luis Quinonez)
10 Simon Pure (Jon Court)
11 Nob Hill Deelite (Corey Lanerie)
12 Superfly (Willie Martinez)
13 Film Fortune (Terry Thompson)
14 Sayhellotolarry (Calvin Borel)

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