Combatant searching for breakout win in Saturday's Arkansas Derby

He’s a horse with powerhouse connections still in search of a signature victory.

Combatant’s next chance comes in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race this Saturday at Oaklawn Park that will give the son of Scat Daddy a chance to punch his ticket to the 2018 Kentucky Derby.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and co-owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing LLC, Combatant has finished second or third in his last four starts – all stakes events.

“I think he’s been a little disadvantaged, just with the pace scenarios and his placement in the starting gate,” said Winchell racing manager David Fiske. “I think the circumstances have kind of conspired against him, going all the way back to the race at Remington last fall.”

In his last four starts, Combatant has finished second in the $400,000 Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 17 at Remington Park, second in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 15 at Oaklawn, second in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 19 at Oaklawn and third in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 17 at Oaklawn.

Combatant has amassed 22 qualifying points with those finishes to rank 24th on the official Kentucky Derby leaderboard. The race is limited to 20 starters.

Fisk said Combatant’s races have been impacted by horses getting loose on the lead and drawing outside post positions in his last two starts.

“Hopefully, he can catch a break,” Fisk said. “I was telling somebody this morning if he were to run third and pick up $100,000, he would have almost half-a-million dollars next to his name and still be eligible for non-winners of two.”

Combatant has a 1-3-1 record from six lifetime starts and earnings of $338,550.

Winchell Thoroughbreds has campaigned, among others, 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner and champion Untapable. Willis Horton’s best runners include champions Will Take Charge and Take Charge Brandi.