In the wake of Creator (Tapit)'s rallying triumph in the GI Arkansas Derby, four horses exiting the centerpiece event of the Oaklawn Park meet have secured sufficient points to compete in the May 7 GI Kentucky Derby. According to Elliott Walden, CEO and president of WinStar Farm, Creator will fly to Kentucky Monday to begin preparing for the Run for the Roses.
“He came back good,” said Walden. “Everything's great.”
Creator broke his maiden in his sixth career start at Oaklawn Feb. 27 and continued a trajectory of steady improvement with a fast-closing third-place finish behind Cupid (Tapit) in the GII Rebel S. Mar. 19. Assuming his typical spot at the rear of the pack Saturday, the Steve Asmussen trainee launched a powerful rally and got up to capture the main event going away by 1 1/4 lengths over Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft).
Suddenbreakingnews took the overland route, but still managed to circle the field and procure place honors, making up for a troubled fifth-place run in the Rebel. Trainer Donnie Von Hemel reported that the bay, winner of the Feb. 15 GIII Southwest S., will van to Kentucky Tuesday ahead of a probable start in the Derby.
“The only puzzling thing was Louie [Quinonez] said he was struggling with the race track a little bit, and really didn't start moving until they straightened away down the lane,” Von Hemel said. “Around the turn, I was really worried about whether he was going anywhere at all.”
Arkansas Derby third-place finisher Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect), beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Creator, will also move on to compete on the first Saturday in May, trainer and co-owner Ron Moquett confirmed Sunday. Moquett added that the gelding emerged from Saturday's race in fine condition and will also fly to Kentucky Monday with the plan of spending two days in Lexington for oxygen therapy prior to shipping to Churchill Downs.
Moquett pointed out that Whitmore has room for improvement after losing position early in the Arkansas Derby.
“[Creator] is obviously a good horse,” Moquett said. “I'm not taking anything away from him. Yesterday, the horse that had the ability also had a trip that enabled him to do it. There's something to be said about our horse being in trouble. I believe we're not a trouble-prone horse, but three times in a row and you start thinking.”
Whitmore was previously runner-up behind Suddenbreakingnews in the Southwest after encountering traffic trouble, and third after a wide run in the Rebel. Moquett said he is hopeful that leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Whitmore back in the Kentucky Derby.
The connections of Cupid (Tapit), 10th as the 4-5 favorite in Saturday's contest, have not yet offered any indication as to whether they will enter in the Derby. The colt is scheduled to travel to Kentucky Monday, according to Jimmy Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert. Cupid ranks 13th on the points leaderboard as a result of the 50 points he accrued for his Rebel victory.
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