Arkansas Derby Morning Lines

[Molesap]

FYI – Charlatan made the even money favorite in the first division while Nadal the 5/2 choice in the second division of the Arkansas Derby.

OP 11 - Arkansas Derby, Division One

1. Charlatan, Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, 1-1

2. My Friends Beer, Jeremiah O’Dwyer, Declan Cannon, 20-1

3. Mo Mosa, Mike Maker, Kendrick Carmouche, 30-1

4. Gouverneur Morris, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 9-2

5. Jungle Runner, Steve Asmussen, Tyler Baze, 30-1

6. Shooters Shoot, Peter Eurton, Joe Talamo, 8-1 SCRATCHED

7. Wrecking Crew, Peter Miller, Flavien Prat, 20-1

8. Anneau d’Or, Blaine Wright, Juan Hernandez, 6-1

9. Winning Impression, Dallas Stewart, Julien Leparoux, 15-1

10. Crypto Cash, Kenny McPeek, Corey Lanerie, 20-1

11. Basin, Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana Jr., 8-1

 

OP 13 - Arkansas Derby, Division Two

1. Finnick the Fierce, Rey Hernandez, Martin Garcia, 15-1

2. Saratogian, Rodolphe Brisset, Joe Talamo, 50-1

3. Storm the Court, Peter Eurton, Flavien Prat, 6-1

4. King Guillermo, Juan Carols Avila, Samuel Camacho Jr., 3-1

5. Nadal, Bob Baffert, Joel Rosario, 5-2

6. Code Runner, Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott, 50-1

7. Silver Prospector, Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana Jr., 10-1

8. Fast Enough, Rafael Becerra, Tyler Baze, 12-1 SCRATCHED

9. Taishan, Richard Baltas, David Cohen, 15-1

10. Farmington Road, Todd Pletcher, Javier Castellano, 12-1

11. Wells Bayou, Brad Cox, Florent Geroux, 7-2

[wrongly1]

So Baffy gets OP to split the race in order for Charlatan to run.  Two horses scratch out of the box, one being the only other speed in the first division.  Funny how both scratches are by California trainers.  Must be nice that the entire industry gives Bobby what he wants.

[P-Dub]

There was zero chance Charlatan wasn\'t going to run. I\'m sure the racing secretary called every trainer with a 3YO that was breathing, trying to get enough to fill 2 races.

Why would the industry want perhaps the best 3YO in training laid up in his stall on Arkansas (Ky) Derby Day?? If Charlatan was trained by someone else, I have little doubt every effort would have been made to get him in the starting gate.

In a day when people complain about load management, let alone current times where we have little sports to watch, why wouldn\'t we do everything we can to have stars perform??  Especially on a day that will get a very large audience?

[wrongly1]

P-Dub

I think you are sadly mistaken that the race would have been split if Charaltan was trained by anyone else.  Wouldn\'t happen for someone like Mary Eppler!  The horse most certainty wouldn\'t have be on the Baffert \"program\" and run that crazy number First Out!  Unfortunately, many in the industry see him as too big to fail, too big to be even questioned and his arrogance continues to run wild.

[P-Dub]

wrongly1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> P-Dub
>
> I think you are sadly mistaken that the race would
> have been split if Charaltan was trained by anyone
> else.  Wouldn\'t happen for someone like Mary
> Eppler!  The horse most certainty wouldn\'t have be
> on the Baffert \"program\" and run that crazy number
> First Out!  Unfortunately, many in the industry
> see him as too big to fail, too big to be even
> questioned and his arrogance continues to run
> wild.

\"Sadly mistaken\"?  Lol ok.

You want to compare a trainer with 8 starts in 2020 with Baffert.

Mary E. Eppler Racing Stable, Inc.
 
2020 STATISTICS*
Starts   Firsts   Seconds   Thirds   Earnings
8   0   2   2   $20,380

If you had said Asmussen, Brown, or any other similar trainer...I would have disagreed, but you wouldn\'t have been ridiculous. Just wrong.

You may not like him, but Baffert is also star power and so is that colt.

Too big to fail?? He wouldn\'t have \"failed\" if he didn\'t run this weekend.

Racing would have failed not having the #1 3YO run in the highest profile 3YO race to date, without the #1 trainer of TC horses.

The Rolling Stones want to perform at a music festival. Its all booked up. I\'m sure the promoters would tell them, \"sorry fellas, we have no room for you\".

My guess is that the promoters find room for them.

Thats how it works.

[FrankD.]

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/239934/trainer-miller-critical-of-arkansas-derby-scratch

[BitPlayer]

Oaklawn Park
5/2/20
Arkansas Derby D1
#  Odds
1   0.2
2   101.3
3   82.0
4   5.7
5   129.1
6   SCR
7   SCR
8   13.2
9   33.0
10  58.8
11  9.6

[BitPlayer]

Oaklawn Park
5/2/20
Arkansas Derby D2
#  Odds
1   43.3
2   SCR
3   11.5
4   4.3
5   1.2
6   105.5
7   5.6
8   SCR
9   33.4
10  5.9
11  6.2