Nadal completes a Baffert sweep with Arkansas Derby win
In Nadal’s works leading up to the second division of Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Arkansas Derby, it became apparent that trainer Bob Baffert was preparing him to rate off the pace. As the gates opened at Oaklawn Park, he had no choice.
Wells Bayou beat the break, crossing over the field from the outside post. Nadal, however, assumed an outside, stalking position that turned into a winning trip, improving his record to 4-for-4 as the talented colt continues to stretch out in distance.
"Down the backside, I just loved the way he was," Baffert said. "I figured if he was good enough, he can win from there. We just didn't want to go :22 and empty out. It worked out perfectly."
Earlier on the card, the Baffert barn also won the first Arkansas Derby division with unbeaten Charlatan in his stakes debut. The sweep harkened back to 2012, when Baffert trainees Secret Circle and Castaway took split divisions of the Southwest Stakes (G3) on the Kentucky Derby trail.
These dual Arkansas Derbys replaced the bigger prize — delayed until Sept. 5 — but provided a bevy of Kentucky Derby points to their top four finishers on a 100-40-20-10 basis.
Nadal began to press Wells Bayou harder after the half-mile fraction posted in 46.21 seconds. That one dropped out of contention, leaving King Guillermo and Finnick the Fierce, a one-eyed longshot, chasing for minor awards. Farmington Road closed for fourth.
Under jockey Joel Rosario, Nadal finished up 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.34, returning $3.80. George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman and Mark Mathiesen campaign the Kentucky-bred son of Blame, who also owns victories as well in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) and Rebel Stakes (G2).
“He looked good,” Rosario said. “Very good race. He sat off (Wells Bayou) and then took care of the rest. He’s a champ.”
Nadal tops the Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby points standings with 150 points. He’s one of three Baffert colts in the top 10 along with fourth-place Charlatan (100) and eighth-place Authentic (60).
“I just have to thank the timing,” Bolton said. “He had six weeks between starts. He went back to California and Bob worked him behind horses three times. I thought if there was speed today, he could sit off it. He had a much more comfortable trip than in the Rebel when he was attacked by three different challengers.
“I was very proud. He finished well.”
For King Guillermo, Saturday marked another strong stakes showing for a colt who’s emerged onto the scene this spring. The Juan Carlos Avila-trained son of Uncle Mo entered off a March 7 win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and now has 90 points toward entry into the Kentucky Derby starting gates.
Finnick the Fierce, a Rey Hernandez trainee, entered off a local allowance optional claiming win April 4. He ran a big race Saturday at 62-1 odds, coming home 4 ½ lengths short of Nadal but well in front of most of the field.