Arkansas & Florida Derby Picks

By Rick Francis —-

Oaklawn Park

Race 12) 1&1/8th Mile. Arkansas Derby Grade I. Purse $1,250,000 THREE YEAR OLDS
Post Time: 7:24/( 6:24)/ 5:24/ 4:24

6) Angel of Empre (Cox/Prat); winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star, contested at today’s distance, placed here two back in a very sloppy G2 Rebel Stakes; trainer/jockey winning at a whopping 42 percent on the year.

7) Rocket Can (Mott/Alvarado); ran into the buzzsaw Forte last out in the Fountain of Youth, that one’s not here.Into Mischief colt has shown to rebound off place efforts with winning one’s.

1) Bourbon Bash (Lukas/Guiterrez); was closing over a very sloppy Rebel, but when forced to come out he lost all momentum ; Lukas trainee can surprise.

4) To Eagles River ( Hartman/Juarez); exits a “sharp” win going a mile her back in February, can get a share underneathe.

Selections: 6, 7, 1, 4

Gulfstream Park

Race 14) 1&1/8th Mile. Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa Grade I. Purse $1,000,000 (plus $100,000 FTBOA – FL TB Owner Brdr Assoc Fund plus $100,000 State Bred) THREE YEAR OLDS.
Post Time: ( 6:40)/ 5:40/ 4:40/ 3:40

11) Forte (Pletcher/Otiz, I.); goes for 5-straight and 5-of-6 career; see nothing but a short price for this colt out of Violence.

12) Dubyuhnell (Gargan/Ortiz, J.); blew his skids last out in the Stephen Davis at Tampa; rebounds enough to make the first Saturday in May.

2) West Coast Cowboy (Joseph/Leon); his 3rd in the Holy Bull warrantsan underneathe play.

4) Mage (Delgado/Saez); traffic trouble notwiithstanding, he wasn’t a threat to the top pick in the Fountain of Youth.

Selections: 11 w/ 2, 4, 12