Contenders Abound in the 14-horse Arkansas Derby

After proving to be a decidedly one-sided affair the last four years, with prohibitive favorites Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Lawyer Ron and Curlin (Smart Strike) all winning as expected, Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby (G2) looks very contentious. San Felipe S. (G2) runner-up GAYEGO (Gilded Time) has been installed as the 5-2 favorite on the morning line, but the California shipper will face a slew of capable challengers in the 14-horse field at Oaklawn Park.

The Paulo Lobo-trained Gayego opened his three-year-old campaign with a smart 2 3/4-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong San Pedro S. two starts back, but the lightly raced colt was still untested around two turns. He gave a fine account of himself when stretching out for the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe on March 15, racing close to the pace before surging to the lead in upper stretch, and the dark bay fought gamely to the finish before settling for second, three parts of a length behind Georgie Boy (Tribal Rule) and one length better than third-placer Bob Black Jack (Stormy Jack), who posted an excellent second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) next out. Regular rider Mike Smith, who swept the Apple Blossom H. (G1) and Oaklawn H. (G2) last weekend with California shippers, will travel back to Hot Springs to pilot Gayego.

Steve Asmussen, who will be at Keeneland Saturday to watch Pyro (Pulpit) in the Blue Grass (G1), will be represented by a trio of runners in KING'S SILVER SON (Mizzen Mast), Z FORTUNE (Siphon [Brz]) and ABLAZE WITH SPIRIT (American Spirit). King's Silver Son broke his maiden two starts back at Fair Grounds, winning a one-mile special weight contest by 3 1/2 lengths, and then stepped up with an admirable effort in the Rebel S. (G2), rallying late for runner-up honors behind Sierra Sunset (Bertrando), who has since been sidelined with an injury. Luis Quinonez will pick up the mount on King's Silver Son.

Z Fortune opened 2008 with an encouraging score in the Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds and finished second to stablemate Pyro next time out in the Risen Star S. (G3). The gray colt didn't fire last time as the 3-5 Rebel favorite, checking in fifth, but the stakes-tested colt is eligible to rebound with an improved showing on Saturday. He'll get a new rider in Robby Albarado. Ablaze with Spirit will make his graded debut after finishing third in the WinStar Derby most recently.

LIBERTY BULL (Holy Bull) exits a convincing two-length win in the WinStar Derby, and the Tom Amoss pupil has had some success at Oaklawn this year, winning the Smarty Jones S. prior to a dead-heat third in the Southwest S. (G3) two starts back. The gray colt will be reunited with Eusebio Razo Jr., who rode him in his two Oaklawn starts. MY PAL CHARLIE (Indian Charlie) is one to consider in his second stakes attempt. The Al Stall runner won two straight at Fair Grounds before making his stakes debut at 60-1 in the Louisiana Derby (G2), but the B. Wayne Hughes colorbearer outran his odds that afternoon, leading the way until the final furlong when he was passed by Pyro. My Pal Charlie still courageously held second, and he'll likely show speed again under Julien Leparoux here.

BLACKBERRY ROAD (Gone West), a Grade 2 runner-up at two, entered his sophomore campaign with big expectations and closed for second in the Lecomte in his first start this year. However, the David Carroll runner suffered unplaced finishes in his next two outings, the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby, and the late runner will attempt to turn things around at Oaklawn. Calvin Borel, who was replaced in the Louisiana Derby, has regained the mount.
The California contingent also contains Sham S. (G3) third-placer VICTORY PETE (Five Star Day), El Camino Real Derby (G3) third-placer TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) and INDIAN SUN (Indian Charlie), who was last seen finishing fourth in the San Felipe. ISABULL (Holy Bull) and GOLDEN YANK (Yankee Gentleman), the respective third- and fourth-place finishers in the Rebel, will both return in the Arkansas Derby, and SHEKINAH (Johannesburg) and JAZZ IN THE PARK (Ecton Park) are a couple of good-looking, recent allowance winners in the field.

In post order, the Arkansas Derby contestants are Victory Pete, Clinton Potts; Tres Borrachos, Tyler Baze; Shekinah, Chris Emigh; King's Silver Son; Gayego; Isabull, Tim Doocy; My Pal Charlie; Blackberry Road; Liberty Bull; Golden Yank, Larry Sterling Jr.; Ablaze with Spirit, Clifton Berry; Z Fortune; Indian Sun, Richard Migliore; and Jazz in the Park, Miguel Mena.

All starters will carry 118 pounds. Shekinah, Ablaze with Spirit and Jazz in the Park will comprise a three-horse, mutuel field entry.