Double Up: Fairway’s Favorites And Longshots To Like In Arkansas Derby
Arkansas Derby Split Into Two Divisions For Rescheduled 2020 Race
The Arkansas Derby is usually the final major prep race for the Kentucky Derby. But this is an unprecedented year and upheaval in time for our country. Major sports remain on hiatus, but horse racing fans are at least able to enjoy daily racing of the Sports of Kings with live racing at five racetracks across the country. That includes Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which will award the two winners of this year’s Arkansas Derby races an spot in the entry gate for the rescheduled Kentucky Derby Sept. 5.
The 2020 Arkansas Derby was scheduled for April 11, but moved to May 2 due to the corona virus outbreak that has changed our country and peoples lives forever. Horse racing’s long history of entertainment and competition provides sports enthusiasts an outlet to enjoy, engage, connect and communicate. The horses can’t do that, but those athletes in equestrian sports let us live through their actions and beauty, which are something bold and to behold.
The jockeys are the human connection and guide these animals to the finish line. And those that reach the winners circle in the Arkansas Derby will have the opportunity to be enshrined in horse racing immorality as they race and compete in America’s greatest race – the Kentucky Derby.
Arkansas Derby Betting Guide
The split divisions of the Arkansas Derby is another challenge on the road to the Kentucky Derby. I’ve provided previews of the two races along with race and horse analysis, picks and considerations when betting on the big races.
Arkansas Derby – Division 1 (Sat., May 2 – Post time 6:29 p.m. ET)
| Post | Horse | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlatan | 1/1 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert |
| 2 | My Friends Beer | 20/1 | Decan Clannon | Jeremiah O’Dwyer |
| 3 | Mo Mosa | 30/1 | Kendrick Carmouche | Mike Maker |
| 4 | Gouverneur Morris | 9/2 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
| 5 | Jungle Runner | 30/1 | Tyler Baze | Steve Asmussen |
| 6 | Wrecking Crew | 20/1 | Flavien Prat | Peter Miller |
| 7 | Anneau d’ Or | 6/1 | Juan Hernandez | Blaine Wright |
| 8 | Winning Impression | 15/1 | Julien Leparoux | Dallas Stewart |
| 9 | Crypto Cash | 20/1 | Corey Lanerie | Ken McPeek |
| 10 | Basin | 8/1 | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Steve Asmussen |
Check out my latest coverage at Forbes for the Arkansas Derby, along with TheLines, where I provide an Arkansas Derby Betting Guide with post positions, odds and how to bet the races. Looking for a longshot? I chip-in my thoughts and additional race analysis at Offshore Gaming Association for Farmington Road (12-1) as one to include in your win wagers and exotics as you look for a bigger score in the second division of the Arkansas Derby.
Arkansas Derby – Division 2 (Sat., May 2 – Post time 7:43 p.m. ET)
| Post | Horse | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finnick the Fierce | 15/1 | Martin Garcia | Rey Hernandez |
| 2 | Saratogian | 50/1 | Joe Talamo | Rodolphe Brisset |
| 3 | Storm the Court | 6/1 | Flavien Prat | Peter Eurton |
| 4 | King Guillermo | 3/1 | Samuel Camacho, Jr. | Juan Carlos Avila |
| 5 | Nadal | 5/2 | Joel Rosario | Bob Baffert |
| 6 | Code Runner | 50/1 | Stewart Elliott | Steve Asmussen |
| 7 | Silver Prospector | 10/1 | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Steve Asmussen |
| 9 | Taishan | 15/1 | David Cohen | Richard Baltas |
| 10 | Farmington Road | 12/1 | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher |
| 11 | Wells Bayou | 7/2 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox |
Many factors to consider and review when betting the horses. You can learn from experts like Rob Henie, who publishes the East Coast and West Coast Handicapping Reports. Sharp analysis with handicapping lessons are incorporated into each report from a professional who spends hours reviewing video replays and digging deep into the racing form. Understand that pace projections, race shape, track biases, trip analysis, historical patterns for the race type and much more are all part of the handicap.
So is finding and betting value. Let’s see if Farmington Road can lead us to the money and hit the green. As I noted in my coverage of the race that includes a historical chart of Arkansas Derby winners, odds and payouts since 2006, four of the last five favorites have won the Arkansas Derby. But eight of the 22 horses to finish second or third in the Arkansas Derby since 2009 did so at double-digit odds.
Perhaps a late charge to the finish will even bring closer Farmington Road to the Arkansas Derby winners circle with his jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Todd Pletcher.
See you on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
You can bet on it.
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