Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Arkansas Derby Recap

The road to Kentucky Derby 2017 came to a dramatic end on April 15 and 2-year-old champ Classic Empire threw his hat back into the ring with a victory in the Grade I Arkansas Derby.

Classic Empire was the Derby winterbook favorite but lost some of his luster in a flat show finish in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He came out of that race with a foot abscess and was forced to miss his next scheduled start in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

Things went from bad to worse when he refused to work twice during the month of March and reportedly had a problem with his back. Trainer Mark Casse said no mas and sent him to Winding Oaks Farm to recharge his batteries. He finally came out of his funk and worked four times without incident.

Fast forward to the Arkansas Derby and Classic Empire settled in midpack from post 2 and rumbled down the middle of the track to beat Sunland Derby runner-up Conquest Mo Money by a 1/2 length, followed closely by Lookin At Lee, Sonneteer, and Malagacy. The top five finishers were separated by a couple of lengths in an ugly stretch run and the BSF came back a mediocre 94.

Classic Empire had every right to lose the Arkansas Derby but the champ stood up and refused to bend. He should be fitter now but can he come back in three weeks and run the race of his life in the Derby after everything that has happened to him this year? He has a very tough task ahead of him.  

In other Derby news, Cloud Computing, currently ranked 20th on the Kentucky Derby points list, worked at Belmont Park on April 22 and trainer Chad Brown said that he will skip the Derby and point to the Preakness Stakes. According to Brown, he lacked the seasoning (only 3 starts) to run in the Derby. Untrapped moves up one spot to #20 and is now in the Derby for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Todd Pletcher is still undecided about the Derby status of Malagacy. He is concerned about the ten furlong distance.

Battle of Midway was acquired privately by Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm earlier this week. Jerry Hollendorfer will remain his trainer and Flavien Prat will ride him in the Derby. He worked 5f in 1:00.60 at Santa Anita Park on April 22.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 4-22-17)

#1 - ALWAYS DREAMING

#2 - Gunnevera

#3 - McCraken

#4 - Irish War Cry

#5 - Battalion Runner

#6 - Girvin

#7 - Practical Joke

#8 - Gormley

#9 - Classic Empire

#10 - Irap

#11 - Patch


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards