Cornucopian Favored in Arkansas Derby from Far Outside Position
‘TDN Rising Star’ Cornucopian has been installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s GI Arkansas Derby despite drawing the far outside post position. The Bob Baffert trainee will break from the nine hole in just his second career start.
The Into Mischief colt made an impressive debut at Oaklawn Park, earning TDN Rising Star status after posting a six-furlong time of 1:09.02 — the fastest by a 3-year-old in Oaklawn history. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez retains the mount.
Fan-favorite Coal Battle drew post eight and is listed at 7-2 on the morning line. The Coal Front colt enters the race having already captured the Listed Smarty Jones and GII Rebel Stakes.
GIII Southwest Stakes winner Speed King (Volatile) will break from post five, while Southwest runner-up Sandman (Tapit) drew post six and is the second choice at 3-1. The Southwest has proven productive, as third-place finisher Tiztastic went on to win last Saturday’s GII Louisiana Derby.
Publisher (American Pharoah), still seeking his maiden victory, will break from post three at 6-1 odds for trainer Steve Asmussen.
The complete field from the rail out:
- Brereton’s Baytown (Upstart), 20-1
- First Division (Omaha Beach), 20-1
- Publisher, 6-1
- Bestfriend Rocket (Curlin), 20-1
- Speed King, 15-1
- Sandman, 3-1
- Monet’s Magic (Good Magic), 20-1
- Coal Battle, 7-2
- Cornucopian, 7-5
The Arkansas Derby offers 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner and headlines a 14-race card on Saturday. Last year’s edition featured eventual GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents), who finished third at Oaklawn before his Churchill Downs triumph.
