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Horse Racing News and Commentary |
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Curlin will try to stay undefeated with Arkansas Derby |
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Written by Gohorsepower.com
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Wednesday, 11 April 2007 |
 A field of ten will run in Saturday's million-dollar Grade 2 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/8 mile contest will test Curlin, who is undefeated in two starts, and was made the morning line favorite at odds of 7-5. The race drew familiar names from earlier Kentucky Derby preps run down south this past Winter, such as Officer Rocket, For You Reppo, and Flying First Class; plus a first time starter, Olympic Chief.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will try to get a better effort out of Flying First Class, who finished off the board as the favorite last time out in Oaklawn's Grade 3 Rebel Stakes. Curlin --trained by Steve Asmussen-- won the Rebel by 5 1/4 lengths, coming off of a 12-length maiden win.
The Arkansas Derby is the main event at Oaklawn's final day of a 56-date meeting. In recent years the Arkansas Derby was won by heavy favorites with successful Winter campaigns at Oaklawn, including Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones. Bob Holthus, who trained last year's winner Lawyer Ron, will run Officer Rocket, a second-place finisher in the Rebel Stakes and the Southwest Stakes, both over Oaklawn's main track.
Recommended reading
Curlin is the one to beat in Arkansas - Brisnet
Free Past Performances
DRF Races of the Week
Arkansas Derby - Grade II
Oaklawn Park - Race 11 - Post Time 5:47 Eastern
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Post Horse Weight Jockey Odds
1. Delightful Kiss 118 Russell Baze 10-1
2. Curlin 122 Robby Albarado 7-5
3. Officer Rocket 122 Luis Quinonez 6-1
4. Going Ballistic 122 M. Clifton Berry 12-1
5. Flying First Class 118 Terry Thompson 8-1
6. Storm in May 122 Juan Leyva 15-1
7. Olympic Chief 118 Gen Kato 50-1
8. Slew by Slew 122 Don Pettinger 20-1
9. For You Reppo 118 Kent Desormeaux 6-1
10. Deadly Dealer 118 John Velazquez 4-1
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