LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Six Arkansas Derby runners have won the Kentucky Derby since 1983, and three of those winners -- Smarty Jones (2004), Super Saver (2010) and American Pharoah (2015) -- have come in the past 12 years.
Why?
Trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett said there is no better prep than the Arkansas Derby, simply because of the large crowds, large field size and the pomp of saddling in the infield in front of the fans help runners adapt to the craziness of Derby Day at Churchill Downs.
Asmussen said Creator's behavior before the Arkansas Derby was a tipoff the colt would run well.
"I do think that you get a lot horses that run their race out of the Arkansas Derby in the Kentucky Derby through history," Asmussen said. "And I think the pageantry of that race [Arkansas Derby] does set them up, to a degree, for the pageantry of the Derby. And I do love how he responded to it. He was very focused that day. In prerace for Creator before the Arkansas Derby, you were very confident, because he had his game face on. The race wasn't going to surprise him. It's like, 'We're here to run.' "
Creator won the Arkansas Derby with a last-to-first run under Ricardo Santana Jr., while Whitmore had trouble coming out of the gate, lagged near the back of the pack but put in a strong bid into the stretch.
"The Arkansas Derby is as good a prep as any of them," Moquett said. "There's a big crowd when the horses walk over to the paddock and that paddock is an education in itself."
Florida flopper
Mohaymen, one of three sons of Tapit in the field, will attempt to rebound from his 8¼-length loss as the 4-5 favorite in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 2 after winning his first five career starts.
"First of all, it rained," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "There was water standing on the racetrack, and where we were on the racetrack was the worst part. We broke from 9 out of 10. It's an eighth of a mile into the first turn. We're very wide and on a part of the racetrack that wasn't a good spot to be that day. I feel very strongly about that. We ran 54 feet farther than Nyquist and on the worst part of the racetrack."
McLaughlin said Wednesday's training left him confident that Mohaymen will be up to the demands of Derby Day.
"He's a lovely mover, has a great mind, and we think that's very important on Derby Day. Nothing bothers him, and that's a big plus in the paddock that day," McLaughlin said. "He just does everything right."
McLaughlin has saddled six Kentucky Derby starters, including 2005 runner-up Closing Argument.
What about Bob?
Mor Spirit, accompanied by assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, returned to the track two days after his final work. Trainer Bob Baffert watched from just beside the 5-furlong track gap.
Baffert said he's flying under the radar this year as he seeks his fifth Kentucky Derby victory, and he has been pleased with how Mor Spirit has trained.
"I've been in 16 Kentucky Derbies and have been fortunate to win four of them," Baffert said. "This is a good horse. We just need a good draw and a good break."
Sports on 05/05/2016