Atoned headed to Illinois Derby, Blackberry Road to Arkansas

by Jeff Lowe

Dogwood Stable has settled on race plans for Atoned and Blackberry Road leading up to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

Atoned, runner-up in the Remsen Stakes (G2) and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in his previous two starts, will be pointed to the Illinois Derby (G2) on April 5 at Hawthorne Race Course. Joe Bravo will ride the Repent colt for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Blackberry Road, the fourth-place finisher in the Louisiana Derby (G2), will head to Oaklawn Park for the Arkansas Derby (G2) on April 12. Calvin Borel has the mount for trainer David Carroll.

“We’re anxious to get to the Kentucky Derby with both horses because we think they will improve with the added distance,” Dogwood President Cot Campbell said on Tuesday.

Atoned finished second by a neck to Big Truck at Tampa in his first start in nearly four months since the Remsen. He has earned $100,000 in graded stakes earnings, which puts him 24th on the list of Derby contenders compiled by Churchill Downs Racing Secretary Ben Huffman.

Blackberry Road, the runner-up in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) last November, is 21st on the list with $123,417 in graded stakes earnings.

-Sparky