Tipsheet: 2022 Arkansas Derby

An excellent field of nine three-year-olds has been entered for the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G2) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. The 1 1/8-mile test will give out a total of 170 qualifying points (100-40-20-10) to the top-four finishers in the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event.

Arkansas Derby Picks

• #9 We the People
• #6 Secret Oath
• #4 Doppelganger
• #5 Un Ojo

Arkansas Derby Wagers

• $20 win and place #9 We the People
• 50-cent superfecta 9 with 4, 5, 6 with 4, 5, 6 with all

Arkansas Derby Contenders

#1 KAVOD (15-1) set the tempo before ultimately finishing a solid fourth in the Rebel S. (G2) last time out. The Lea colt has been in consistent form since being claimed for $50,000 by these connections, but he will need a big step forward to upset this cast from the rail. The chestnut will race without blinkers on Saturday.

#2 CHASING TIME (12-1) finished an even fifth in the Rebel and could make the frame with improvement for Steve Asmussen. The son of Not this Time dominated an allowance field on the course two back, and he comes into this event with a bullet work on the strip. Jose Lezcano has the assignment.

#3 BARBER ROAD (8-1) has been in the top three in each of his six tries following an unplaced debut for Ortiz. The consistently good son of Race Day has placed in three straight stakes races at the current meeting, and his best performance will give him a chance late once again with Reylu Gutierrez in the stirrups.

#4 DOPPELGANGER (3-1) invades from the West Coast and has a lot of appeal with Johnnie V. coming into town to ride. The expensive son of Into Mischief has a solid foundation under him and has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in every lifetime showing. The bay has the hood removed and is a win threat in his first outing for Tim Yakteen.

#5 UN OJO (6-1) upset the Rebel at big odds but is no fluke, and the one-eyed wonder will be a factor in the lane once again. The gelded son of Laoban has a smart turn of foot and proved in his last pair that he is up to this class level. The Empire State-bred will have Ramon Vazquez in the controls.

#6 SECRET OATH (5-2) has overpowered fillies at the meeting and will tackle the boys on this occasion. The homebred chestnut daughter of Arrogate has thrashed her opponents in three straight by a combined 23 lengths, and gives the impression of a filly who will thrive with the added ground on Saturday. The one to beat will be rallying from off the early tempo under regular pilot Luis Contreras.

#7 BEN DIESEL (15-1) rates as an outsider after failing to hit the board in three-of-four stakes races at this stage of his development. The chestnut would be a surprise in this deep field.

#8 CYBERKNIFE (8-1) crushed allowance foes at Fair Grounds last time out to earn a deserved spot in the field for Brad Cox. The talented Gun Runner colt continues to train forwardly this campaign, and he might be up to the task with a step forward on this occasion. Florent Geroux retains the mount.

#9 WE THE PEOPLE (7-2) is short on experience but long on talent for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The bay son of Constitution has been dominant from two lifetime outings, both route races on the course, and I think the lightly raced colt will benefit from drawing outside against this tough cast. He will press the pace as the upset selection while picking up Flavien Prat.