Diodoro points former claimer Airtime for Arkansas Derby

Airtime, unbeaten in two starts at the current Oaklawn meeting, is being pointed to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby on April 1, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Friday morning.

Diodoro claimed Airtime on behalf of owner Randy Howg for $50,000 out of a 10 ¼-length victory on Jan. 29.

Airtime, in his first start for Diodoro, was a 1 1/4-length winner of a first-level allowance race at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 18. The son of American Freedom has subsequently recorded two works at Oaklawn in advance of the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, which will mark his stakes debut.

“We’ve got a couple of more works until April 1, but the horse is doing very good,” Diodoro said. “We were hoping that we had claimed a nice 3-year-old. It is a big swing, but the horse is showing all the signs of being a little better than a $50,000 horse. Trained very good.”

Diodoro said Cristian Torres would have the return call on Airtime for the Arkansas Derby. Torres is Oaklawn’s leading rider this season.

The Arkansas Derby will offer 200 points to the top five finishers on a 100-40-30-20-10 basis toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.

Post positions for the Arkansas Derby will be drawn March 26. It is Oaklawn’s fourth and final Kentucky Derby points race.