69th ARKANSAS DERBY, Gr. II, $1,000,000, 9f, OP 9th

1.) BATSON CHALLENGE (Vestal/Borel) 118/30-1: Big number on viable inclusion that was more than respectable 3rd in Rebel. Gets rail, knows Calvin, and has paired 6's on Thoro-Graph. Is likely to move forward.

2.) ANDROMEDA'S HERO (Zito/Nakatani) 122/10-1: 5th of Zito's hopefuls took three tries to get back to juvy best TG 5, and now gets Corey and cozy berth for late run. Zito has had success with Nakatani, getting a positive ROI with 17% win clip. Moved forward over sealed Turfway strip in Lane's End, and is bred to run all day.

3.) CANTEEN (Drysdale/Espinoza) 118/12-1: Hancock/Stonerside homebred is late arrival to Derby Trail from FuPeg trainer Drysdale. Had diploma taken away when drifting out in last at SA (second such issue in three start career), a sign of ill health. Half to Strodes Creek.

4.) RUSH BAY (Amoss/Razo) 118/12-1: One of the ones we liked pre-season, Amoss charge regrouped nicely after hopeless 11 hole queered his deal in the Risen Star soph debut. Paired his career best TG fig (4.2) in ALW score over good New Haven Harbor, and gets perfect 5 week break for this. Can stalk and pounce and ideally needs 2nd for Derby try.

5.) FLOWER ALLEY (Pletcher/Chavez) 122/9-2: Lanes End surprise package a different animal since calendar turned and Choppy added, pairing sharp wins and boosting figs. Second fastest here fig-wise, behind Alex, and should get his chance in the stretch. Offers value at ML num.

6.) AFLEET ALEX (Ritchey/Rose) 122/2-1: Toughest call of the day is on this enigmatic five time winner who's campaign has been stranger than a Grateful Dead trip. Is he healthy? Is he capable at 9 panels? Does Rose's return help? Like the mile breeze and 4f blowout last two weeks, but how do you take 2-1 after utter fiasco in last month's Rebel? Your call.

7.) WILD DESERT (McPeek/P. Valenzuela) 118/6-1: Lane's End runner up increasingly has look of a division player for TC training vet and kooky connections. Just gets better and better on Beyer and T-Graph scale with experience and distance, and is sitting pretty for Derby with any check today. May not get ideal set-up pace-wise, but showed ability to stay close and finish last year. Pair up to Turfway fig (3) gets share in this as long as PVal can save some ground.

8.) REAL DANDY (Asmussen/Chapa) 118/20-1: "Lacked rally" in High Limit's LA Derby, but so did any horse that had hoped to close at the Fairgrounds that day. Asmussen bay is yet another steady developer and late runner in a field full of 'em. Needs to step up a notch or two in the figure department, but adds a pilot who knows his way around this oval.

9.) CAT SHAKER (Callis/Bravo) 122/30-1: 39-1 heart attack in the Rushaway gets late Derby nomination and another TV appearence out of the deal. Don't doubt son af Catienus is a nice colt, but reminds us more of Cat Genius (last in this event '03 off listed stake win) than Eugene's Third Son (2nd in same edition out of Lane's End). We'd be curious when Joe Bravo last visited Arkansas..

10.) GREATER GOOD (Holthus/McKee) 5-2: Intidab bay ridgling has garnered little respect despite Hot Springs achievements this year, but has quietly been getting faster (Rebel a new top of 3). Is lone entrant with route win(s) this surface and sports 5/4-0-1 mark at mile and beyond. (And the third came when he had to pull a National Velvet over fallen horse in the Iroquois). Wide berth hurts him less than most, but with questionable pace up front Mini Me will need to work out a voyage. Hard to find fault with the Cris Carter of racehorses: "All he does is catch touchdowns".

SELECTIONS:

If the Blue Grass lacks as a wagering contest, this AK Derby should compensate... A myriad of choices once you decide what to do with Afleet Alex and figure out a pace scenario.

1. Flower Alley
2. Greater Good
3. Rush Bay
4. Wild Desert

Exotic Players:
Andromeda's Hero
Batson Challenge