4/16 (OP): Arkansas Derby (G1), Northern Spur S., Instant Racing S.
 

8th (4:05) Instant Racing S.

1 Mile | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 Texas Tempest Thompson T J 115 L
2 Dixie City Dominguez R A 119 L
3 Tapit Dancer Nakatani C S 115 L
4 May Day Rose Garcia M 122 L
5 Scarlet Mist Court J K 115 L
6 Hearts On Fire Birzer A E 117 L
7 Harbor Fox Berry M C 115 L
8 Art of Deception Diego I 115 L



9th (4:41) Northern Spur S.

1 Mile | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 Alstom Dominguez R A 115 L
2 Fairing Quinonez L S 115 L
3 Albergatti Nakatani C S 115 L
4 Uncle Brent Rocco J S Jr 115 L
5 Nuckser Diego I 115 L
6 Commander Borel C H 119 L
7 The Ole Gen Saez G 117 L
8 Zarby's Derby Day Santana R Jr 115 L
9 Derivative Thompson T J 119 L



11th (5:58) Arkansas Derby (G1)

1 1/8 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $1,000,000

2 Nehro Nakatani C S 118 L
3 Elite Alex Borel C H 118 Blk-On L
4 The Factor Garcia M 122 L
5 Brethren Dominguez R A 122 Blk-On L
6 Sway Away Valenzuela P A 118 Blk-On L
1 Caleb's Posse Razo E Jr 122 L
7 Truman's Commander Ocampo I 118 L
1A Alternation Quinonez L S 118 L
8 Dance City Castellano J J 118 L
9 Archarcharch Court J K 122 L
10 J P's Gusto Berry M C 122 Blk-On L
11 J W Blue Rocco J S Jr 118 L
12 Saratoga Red Thompson T J 118 L

A-Coupled: Caleb's Posse and Alternation

Why do I keep getting sucked into Elite Alex? It will surely happen again in a couple of days.

I was the same way with Golden Yank a couple of years ago.:zz:

He'll have no excuses this time, as he finally drew inside.
If Borel doesn't take him back too much (plus he adds blinkers), he should be able to track the Factor and work out a decent trip.

Why are Caleb's Posse and Alternation coupled this race, and they weren't in the Rebel? Is it because of the field size?

Yes. You can't have more than 12 betting interests in Arkansas. If they couple those two it keeps them from having to use a mutuel field. Someone should let them know it's 2011.

That's what I figured. Is that morning line for the race out yet?
I'll guess the Factor is listed around 9-5 as the favorite, and will probably be bet down to close to even money by post time.

EDIT: I see that they made the Factor 7-5, which seems realistic.

I still like Archarcharch in the Arkansas Derby.

I can't wait to see The Factor in this race....maybe Dance City might try him on the front end???? I am really interested to see how The Factor does in the stretch....I am hoping he is the real deal.

Agreed..:)

And 12-1 morning line:$::$:

i have to drive half an hour to buy beer-and you expect them to be current with betting??? ;)

I have to drive 90 minutes to lay down a bet on a race, but plenty of ice cold beer all the way.

Does anyone find it odd that Oaklawn's late pk 4 on Saturday is races 9-12?

Instead of having it start with the Instant Racing stakes start and end with the Arkansas Derby, they're including the goofy end-of-the-meet marathon race. At least that's what DRF shows.

Woodbine always does the same thing. . . very frustrating.

While The Factor is obviously the most likely winner, if the entry is around that 10/1 ML I find them to be an interesting option here.

Right now, I only see two horses that I could back to win the Derby running this weekend....The Factor and Archarcharch, I think Elite Alex remains a threat to finish in the money. Might (probably will) change my mind but that how it looks to me right now.

If I might give a heads up for the 10th race(an oc $50,000 n2x) Bluegrass Bull is 20-1 ml. He's beaten Swift Warrior on Calder turf, Master Dunker on Calder dirt, and come in 3rd at OP to Alternation and Dreaminofthewin as well as 3rd to Caleb's Posse and Dreaminofthewin

Stopped in his last race at 7-2

Seems like a live longshot

Is there any kind of online radio coverage of the Arkansas Derby? Horseracingradio.net seems determined to make my ears bleed with whatever horrible quasi-country music is playing. "I love little baby ducks"? What kind of lyric is that?

I gathered there's no free video feed. DRF's got nothing, no NTRA Live coverage. Oh well. On a side note, do you have to live in Brigadoon to have heard of NBC's Versus channel? Guess I don't get to see the Kentucky Oaks live this year. On the plus side, I don't have to look at the reality show "stars" on the red (pink?) carpet.

Try this:

http://espn.go.com/horse/liveracing08.html

I don't know how good it is but it's free live video.