Meet the Contenders: 2024 Arkansas Derby
Timberlake (Photo by Coady Photography)
March 26th, 2024
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your Stable Alerts.
Oaklawn Park - Coady Photography
#1 Will Take It *
Pro: Showed improved early foot last time and just missed in stretch duel.
Con: First two tries were poor, and he enters still a maiden.
Timberlake wins the Rebel (G2) (Photo by Coady Photography)
#2 Timberlake *****
Pro: Champagne (G1) and Rebel (G2) winner one of the classiest colts in the field.
Con: Raced a bit erratically in stretch of the Rebel; lack of focus a potential issue.
Timberlake kicks off his 3-year-old season with a win in the G2 Rebel S. and 50 points towards the @kentuckyderby! 🌹🎵@bradcoxracing trains and @cristiantorr64 had the mount!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 24, 2024
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/Rb4ZlVxOEh
Dimatic wins at Oaklawn (Photo by Coady Photography)
#3 Dimatic **
Pro: One of three in here for Steve Asmussen, who has won this race four times.
Con: Blinkers didn’t help much in Rebel, where he was well-beaten fifth.
Transitioning to @OaklawnRacing worked wonders for the Asmussen trainee, Dimatic, who rallied from behind to win a maiden special weight on Saturday.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 7, 2024
Click the link below to add him to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/9xTcoU3HXy pic.twitter.com/Qg9XkjcLq1
Time for Truth (Photo by Coady Photography)
#4 Time for Truth ***
Pro: Stakes-placed colt handled two turns well winning allowance last time.
Con: Hasn’t faced a field of this quality yet and stamina will be tested.
.@KentuckyDerby Maiden Watch: Flashy winners close out 2023.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 2, 2024
🏇 Doncho
🏇 Born Noble
🏇Time for Truth
🏇Lambeth
🏇Imperial Gun
🏇Colorado Cruiser#KyDerby #MaidenWatch 👀 https://t.co/kJFJyBvErR
Liberal Arts. (Photo by Coady Photography)
#5 Liberal Arts ***
Pro: Distant third in Southwest (G3) and should improve second off the layoff.
Con: Could use some pace and there isn’t a ton of it here on paper.
#8 Liberal Arts and @cristaintorr64 take the G3 Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs for trainer Robert Medina, earning 10 points towards the 150th Kentucky Derby! 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 29, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/b8KXFCO0E5
Informed Patriot (Photo by Coady Photography)
#6 Informed Patriot **
Pro: Ran well here when third to Catching Freedom in Smarty Jones S. two back.
Con: Better than poor try in Sunland Derby suggests, but likely not enough to upset.
#8 Informed Patriot hangs on to break his maiden at second asking in R5 at Churchill Downs! The 2-year-old colt was piloted by @Tyler_Gaff and is trained by Steve Asmussen. 🇺🇸
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 22, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/UQ7kiV2RX5
Muth ranks as the morning line favorite for the Preakness (Photo by Benoit Photo)
#7 Muth *****
Pro: Never worse than second in five starts and among the best of his generation at two.
Con: Enters off layoff of nearly three months and has never run outside SoCal base.
Just Steel (inside) edging Be You in a Saratoga maiden special weight (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher)
#8 Just Steel **
Pro: Placed in first two local Derby preps before throwing a dud in the Rebel.
Con: Proven to be a cut or two below the best three-year-olds on the grounds.
#11 Just Steel takes R2 at Saratoga for "Coach" D. Wayne Lukas with @JRosarioJockey in the saddle! 🤩
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 5, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ORc1d4ffFa
Mystik Dan winning the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography/Kurtis Coady)
#9 Mystik Dan ****
Pro: Romping winner of the Southwest would be the horse to beat if he repeats that effort.
Con: Right trip and muddy strip flattered that big run; must prove he can do it over fast track.
Imperial Gun (Photo by Coady Photography)
# 10 Imperial Gun **
Pro: Son of Gun Runner won maiden well two back; remains with upside.
Con: Interim allowance fourth suggests he needs a big step forward to contend here.
#2 Imperial Gun wins easy in R5 to break his maiden under @jrosariojockey for trainer Steve Asmussen! 🤩
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 31, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/axeD5XdsT3
