Dazzling Gem Will Be Entered in Arkansas Derby

Dazzling Gem will be entered in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) Saturday at Oaklawn and is probable for the 1 1/8-mile race, trainer Brad Cox said Sunday morning.

 

Cox said the decision to enter Dazzling Gem was made following the lightly raced colt’s half-mile work Saturday morning at Oaklawn, and the results of three high-profile Kentucky Derby prep races later in the day, including the $1 million Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct.

 

A maiden, Trojan Nation, finished second in the Wood at odds of 81-1 to earn 40 points toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. If more than 20 enter the Kentucky Derby, starting preference is given to horses with the highest points accumulated in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” race series.

 

Dazzling Gem, owned by prominent Arkansas automobile dealer Steve Landers, has 20 points – all coming from a third-place finish in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G3) March 26 at Fair Grounds – to rank 26th.

 

“We went from 14th to 25th or 26th on the list,” Cox said. “If we want to run in the Derby, we need to earn a spot – not just fall into it. He’s doing good; obviously, worked well. We wanted to see that before we decided where we were going to go.”

 

Dazzling Gem worked a half-mile in :49.40 Saturday morning at Oaklawn.

 

In addition to the Arkansas Derby, Dazzling Gem had been under consideration for Saturday’s $150,000 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and Saturday’s $150,000 Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn.

The Lexington offers 10 points to the winner. The Northern Spur is not part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series.

 

Like the Louisiana Derby, the Arkansas Derby offers 170 points to the top four finishers, with 100 awarded to the winner. Second, third and fourth are worth 40, 20 and 10, respectively.

 

Before running third in the Louisiana Derby, Dazzling Gem won his first two career starts at Oaklawn, including a Feb. 13 entry-level allowance.

 

The Misremembered colt will likely need a new jockey for the Arkansas Derby, Cox said, because Shaun Bridgmohan has the call on Synchrony for the Lexington. Bridgmohan has ridden Dazzling Gem in all three lifetime starts.

 

“We’ve kind of got a couple of people lined up that we’re talking to,” Cox said. “Probably going to finalize something in a day or two.”

 

The addition of Dazzling Gem pushes the probable Arkansas Derby field to 11.

 

Two scheduled starters, Gray Sky and Luna de Loco, recorded half-mile works over a fast track Sunday at Oaklawn. Gray Sky went in :50 for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Luna de Loco went in :49 for six-time Oaklawn training champion Steve Asmussen.

 

Other scheduled Arkansas Derby starters are American Pioneer, Creator, Cupid, Discreetness, Gettysburg, Suddenbreakingnews, Unbridled Outlaw and Whitmore. Cutacorner and Tisdale remain under consideration for the Arkansas Derby.

 

The Southern California-based Cupid won the final major local prep for the Arkansas Derby – $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) March 19 – and is scheduled to be flown Wednesday to Arkansas. Cupid will try to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his third Arkansas Derby victory since 2012. The trainer won last year’s Arkansas Derby with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

 

Gettysburg is scheduled to be flown Monday to Arkansas for trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the Arkansas Derby in 2000 with Graeme Hall, 2001 with Balto Star, 2013 with Overanalyze and 2014 with Danza.

The top locally based hopes include Southwest winner Suddenbreakingnews and Whitmore, runner-up in the Southwest and Rebel. Discreetness won the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 18 at Oaklawn.

 

Post positions for the Arkansas Derby and $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) will be drawn at 12:15 p.m. (Central) Wednesday on the first floor near the information booth. The event is open to the public.