Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
ON THE HOT SEAT
CLASSIC EMPIRE NEEDS BIG ONE IN ARKANSAS DERBY,
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Classic Empire has a chance to shake things up at the top of the 3-year-old charts with the right kind of performance Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
But to do that, the champion, who is looking to rebound from a third-place finish in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream, must overcome 11 rivals. They include fellow Daily Racing Form Derby Watch members Malagacy, the winner of last month’s Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel at Oaklawn, and Untrapped, who has been knocking on the door in preps at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn.
Other contenders in the Arkansas Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race that closes the meet, include Conquest Mo Money, the runner-up in the Sunland Derby; Lookin At Lee, a stretch threat who ran second to Classic Empire in the Breeders’ Futurity; Rockin Rudy, who has a chance to steal away from the rail; and Petrov, the runner-up in two local preps, the Smarty Jones and Southwest.
Most in the field are facing Kentucky Derby points pressure and will be gunning hard for the 170 qualifying points that go to the first four finishers on a scale of 100-40-20-10.
The Arkansas Derby goes as the 11th race on a 12-race card that also includes the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap, led by Midnight Storm; the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet; and the $150,000 Northern Spur. The infield is scheduled to be open on an afternoon forecast to be in the 70s.
KEY CONTENDERS
Classic Empire, by Pioneerof the Nile Last 3 Beyers: 87-102-88
◗ The brilliant winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for owner John Oxley, he is returning from a right front foot abscess that did not reveal itself until after the Holy Bull, a Feb. 4 race in which Classic Empire launched his season and ended up 8 3/4 lengths behind winner Irish War Cry.
“That wasn’t him,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He’s usually very calm, cool, and collected. He was terrible in the paddock. It was uncharacteristic of him, and we really didn’t know why.”
Following the race, Classic Empire passed the barn’s exam protocols that Saturday and Sunday, but by Monday, he had trouble moving around, said Casse. The brewing abscess finally popped that Wednesday, but there were lingering effects. Classic Empire then had soreness in his back, which could have been caused by his compensating for the foot, and a specialist was brought in to return him to health.
“We got him over that,” said Casse.
◗ Casse does not see the Arkansas Derby as a do-ordie race for Classic Empire concerning the Kentucky Derby. The horse ranks 21st on the points list with 32, but the focus Saturday is simply getting back on the right track in his second start at age 3.
“Win, lose, or draw Saturday, we’ve come a long way, and we’re ready to go,” Casse said. “Has it been the perfect journey? Not even close. But we’re here. We’re happy. We’re ready to run. Let the chips fall where they may.”
◗ Classic Empire will break from post 2 under Julien Leparoux.
Malagacy, by Shackleford Last 3 Beyers: 91-97-89
◗ The undefeated horse made his two-turn debut in the Rebel and tracked the pace en route to a two-length win going 1 1/16 miles. He gets a new distance test Saturday, when he breaks from post 12 under Javier Castellano.
“Javier has commented that he’s kind of a rare horse in the sense that you can ask him to leave the gate and show you some speed, and then you can quickly turn him off after you do that,” trainer Todd Pletcher said on a national teleconference Tuesday. “That’s one of the reasons why we’re optimistic that he’d handle a little more ground.” Untrapped, by Trappe Shot Last 3 Beyers: 89-91-80
◗ He enters off a third-place finish in the Rebel. He will add blinkers for trainer Steve Asmussen.
“We felt that in the Rebel, he kind of dropped the bridle down the backside and was kind of forced to be ridden along to hold position,” he said. “[He] obviously was a little lost in the stretch. We went to the blinkers for focus.”
◗ Mike Smith has the mount.
Lookin At Lee, by Lookin At Lucky Last 3 Beyers: 86-83-83
◗ Asmussen trainee will be making his third start off the layoff, having been freshened following his fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
◗ He should benefit from the added ground he gets in the Arkansas Derby.
“I think the fact that it is a mile and an eighth is something that should benefit him,” Asmussen said. “I like where he’s at. I think he’s a fitter, sharpened horse.”
Conquest Mo Money, by Uncle Mo Last 3 Beyers: 87-76-74
◗ He won the $100,000 Mine That Bird Derby in February at Sunland over Irap, who subsequently won the Blue Grass at Keeneland. He also finished in front of Irap in the Sunland Derby.
“It makes you feel more confident,” trainer Miguel Hernandez said. “At least I know my horse can run a little bit. But every race is different. But it makes you feel good.”
◗ Jorge Carreno has the mount for Judge Lanier Racing.
Rockin Rudy, by Midshipman Last 3 Beyers: 95-87-74
◗ He is the speed from the rail, and trainer Doug O’Neill is hopeful that he will be effective in his two-turn debut Saturday.
“The pedigree is there. The stride is there. The mind-set is there,” O’Neill said.