Oaklawn Barn Notes: Nine Enter 2018 Arkansas Derby

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Nine Enter 2018 Arkansas Derby

Robert and Lawana Low’s undefeated Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Magnum Moon drew post position six and was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1). The Malibu Moon colt will be looking to give trainer Todd Pletcher a fifth win in Oaklawn’s signature race.

Just to Magnum Moon’s inside will be Rebel Stakes runner-up Solomini, who will break from post five as the 2-1 second choice on the morning. Ridden by Flavien Prat, the colt will be looking to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a third win in the race and first since 2015 when American Pharoah won and went on to become the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown. Like American Pharoah, Solomini will wear the silks of Zayat Stables, who co-own the horse with John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip drew post eight and was made the 9-2 third choice in the field of nine. The Rodolphe Brisset-trainee was flattered last weekend when Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Flameaway finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and fourth-place finisher Vino Rosso came back to win the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2).

The complete field for the 2018 Arkansas Derby from the rail out: Beautiful Shot, Richard Eramia, 30-1; Machismo, Scott Spieth, 20-1; Tenfold, Victor Espinoza, 10-1; Dream Baby Dream, Luis Contreras, 15-1; Solomini, Flavien Prat, 2-1; Magnum Moon, Luis Saez, 8-5; Plainsman, C.J. McMahon, 30-1; Quip, Florent Geroux, 9-2, and Combatant, Ricardo Santana Jr., 6-1.

Combatant Looking For Breakout Win in Arkansas Derby

He’s a horse with powerhouse connections still in search of a signature victory.

Combatant’s next chance comes in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) Saturday at Oaklawn, a 1 1/8-mile race that will give the son of Scat Daddy a chance to punch his ticket to the Kentucky Derby.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and co-owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing LLC, Combatant has finished second or third in his last four starts – all major stakes events.

“I think he’s been a little disadvantaged, just with the pace scenarios and his placement in the starting gate,” Winchell racing manager David Fisk said Monday afternoon. “I think the circumstances have kind of conspired against him, going all the way back to the race at Remington last fall.”

In his last four starts, Combatant has finished second in the $400,000 Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 17 at Remington Park, second in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 15 at Oaklawn, second in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 19 at Oaklawn and third in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 17 at Oaklawn.

Combatant has amassed 22 qualifying points with those finishes to rank 24th on the official Kentucky Derby leaderboard released Saturday by Churchill Downs. The race is limited to 20 starters.

Fisk said Combatant’s races have been impacted by horses getting loose on the lead and drawing outside post positions in his last two starts.

“Hopefully, he can catch a break,” Fisk said. “I was telling somebody this morning if he were to run third and pick up $100,000, he would have almost half-a-million dollars next to his name and still be eligible for non-winners of two.”

Combatant has a 1-3-1 record from six lifetime starts and earnings of $338,550.

Winchell Thoroughbreds has campaigned, among others, 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner and champion Untapable. Willis Horton’s best runners include champions Will Take Charge and Take Charge Brandi.

Beach Patrol

Beach Flower was a surprise entrant in Friday’s $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

Blame it on the rain, trainer Mac Robertson said.

A 100 percent chance of rain Friday led Robertson to enter Beach Flower against the likes of Grade 1 winner Unique Bella, the country’s champion female sprinter last year; Streamline, a multiple graded stakes winner at Oaklawn; and Farrell, a multiple graded stakes winner.

Beach Flower has five career victories. But two have come over an off track, including the $50,000 Minnesota H.P.B.A. Distaff Stakes Aug. 26 at Canterbury, a 1-mile race originally scheduled to be run on the turf.

“It’s supposed to rain a lot,” Robertson said Wednesday morning. “There’s a chance that she could run third or fourth in a big race. She likes the mud. Obviously, there’s one in there that looks like she’s worth $10 million and the rest ….”

Ramon Vazquez is scheduled ride Beach Flower, who exits a third-place finish in a March 17 allowance/optional claimer.

Jockeying for Position

Edgar Morales recorded his 17th meet victory in Sunday’s ninth race aboard Malibu Wood ($13.20) for trainer Norman McKnight.

Morales, 19, has won more races than any apprentice jockey at an Oaklawn meeting since Freddie Lenclud (24) in 2010. Morales’ agent, Julio Espinoza, said the jockey’s goal is 20 victories before the meeting ends Saturday.

Apprentice Katlin Bedford, 26, recorded her first career Oaklawn victory in Sunday’s second race aboard Charlie’s Schiller ($111.80) for trainer Tommy Ives.