2025.03.22 Arkansas Derby Field Set

2025 Arkansas Derby Field Set
Compiled by David Longinotti

Sunday, March 23, 2025

OAKLAWN BULLETIN

Field Drawn for Arkansas Derby (G1)

Further details, images and chart to follow

HOT SPRINGS (AR) – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s Cornucopian, whose brilliant debut at Oaklawn has had racing tongues wagging, was installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite after drawing the outside post (9) Sunday for the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1), to be run Saturday, March 29.

The 1 1/8-miles Arkansas Derby, which offers 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, serves as the main event on a 14-race card Saturday that begins with a first race post time 11:20 a.m. CDT. Last year’s Arkansas Derby featured eventual Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, who finished third.

To be ridden by Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, Cornucopian makes just his second career start after a brilliant debut at Oaklawn when the Into Mischief colt romped to a 5 ¾-length victory in a six-furlong maiden allowance race, stopping the clock in a brisk 1:09.02, the fastest clocking ever for a 3-year-old maiden in Oaklawn history.

Smarty Jones and Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Coal Battle drew post position 8 and is listed at 7-2 in the morning line, while Southwest Stakes winner Speed King will break from post position 5. Sandman, the second choice at 3-1 breaks from post 6.

The complete Arkansas Derby field, in post position order, with jockey and morning line odds:

1. Brereton’s Baytown, Marshall Mendez, 20-1

9. Cornucopian, John Velazquez, 7-5