Bodemeister wins the 2012 Arkansas Derby
Bodemeister wins the 2012 Arkansas Derby
April 16, 2012
The $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) is the major Kentucky Derby prep run at Oaklawn Park. Bodemeister was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 11 off his win in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) last out at Santa Anita. In to challenge him include his stablemate and 5-2 second choice Secret Circle, winner of both the Southwest (G3) and Rebel (G2), the local prep path for this event, and 9-2 third choice Optimizer, second in the Rebel last out.
Jockey Mike Smith sent Bodemeister to the lead first time by and he set quick fractions of 23.02, 46.55 and 1:11.36 over the fast track while pressed by 8-1 Stat, with Secret Circle stalking the pair in third. On the turn, Stat tired badly allowing Secret Circle to inherit second and get within 2 lengths of his stablemate. However, Bodemeister kicked clear through the stretch to win going away by 9 1/2 lengths in 1:48.71. It was just a neck back from Secret Circle to late-running 12-1 Sabercat third.
Results chart from DRF
Also this weekend at Oaklawn: the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) won by Plum Pretty and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) won by Alternation.
Bodemeister in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Bob Baffert said, "That was an exciting win. So impressive. When he broke his maiden, he ran a race like that, and he had been working really well, too, at Santa Anita. Bodemeister should be in great shape. He ran hard and fast. We know distance won’t be a problem. That was a 1 1/8 mile workout for him."
Bodemeister after the race
Winning jockey Mike Smith said, "I was out front by about a length or so and I set him down just in case anyone was coming. I looked up on the board and I was like seven in front. That was ultra impressive."
Second place finisher Secret Circle
Trainer Bob Baffert said, "We took some really nice horses there. They all ran well and had been training well. I have a great staff and (assistant trainer) Jimmy Barnes does a great job. We’ll see what this took out of them and then we’ll start talking Kentucky Derby. Oaklawn is a very kind surface and the horses have been coming back great."
Third place finisher Sabercat
Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "I was very pleased with it; it was encouraging. It was the step in the right direction we were expecting and looking for, the move forward we needed. It looked like a very good experience for him. We needed to see improvement and at this time of year, that’s the important thing in each start."
Master Rick wins the 2012 Northern Spur Stakes
The $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes featured a field of 5 three-year-olds going 1 mile. Drill was sent off as the 3-5 favorite over 8-5 second choice Explain and 5-1 third choice Master Rick.
Jockey Jon Court sent 21-1 Double Rah Rah to the lead and he set fractions of 24.10 and 48.40 while pressed by Master Rick to his inside. Entering the stretch, Master Rick moved up to take over the lead, getting 3/4 in 1:12.88, and drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths over favorite Drill in 1:36.73.
It was a long 8 lengths back to Explain third.
Results chart from DRF
Winning jockey Corey Nakatani said, "It's a great day for Steve (5 wins on the card), and I am really happy to be part of his team, and for the owners. As for the race, it shaped up a little better than I thought it would. I was biding my time and about the 1/2 mile pole I let him out a little bit and when Drill came to me I opened up a little bit on him, hoping it would work and it did."
The Bob Baffert trained Drill has enough graded stakes earnings to run in the Kentucky Derby and was entered here to try 2 turns. Baffert said before the race, "Every time I’ve tried two turns, I’ve put him in the deep end of the pool. He’s working really well, and we’ll just see how he handles it. It might give him more opportunities if he handles it."
April 16, 2012
The $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) is the major Kentucky Derby prep run at Oaklawn Park. Bodemeister was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 11 off his win in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) last out at Santa Anita. In to challenge him include his stablemate and 5-2 second choice Secret Circle, winner of both the Southwest (G3) and Rebel (G2), the local prep path for this event, and 9-2 third choice Optimizer, second in the Rebel last out.
Jockey Mike Smith sent Bodemeister to the lead first time by and he set quick fractions of 23.02, 46.55 and 1:11.36 over the fast track while pressed by 8-1 Stat, with Secret Circle stalking the pair in third. On the turn, Stat tired badly allowing Secret Circle to inherit second and get within 2 lengths of his stablemate. However, Bodemeister kicked clear through the stretch to win going away by 9 1/2 lengths in 1:48.71. It was just a neck back from Secret Circle to late-running 12-1 Sabercat third.
Results chart from DRF
Also this weekend at Oaklawn: the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) won by Plum Pretty and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) won by Alternation.
Bodemeister in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Bob Baffert said, "That was an exciting win. So impressive. When he broke his maiden, he ran a race like that, and he had been working really well, too, at Santa Anita. Bodemeister should be in great shape. He ran hard and fast. We know distance won’t be a problem. That was a 1 1/8 mile workout for him."
Bodemeister after the race
Winning jockey Mike Smith said, "I was out front by about a length or so and I set him down just in case anyone was coming. I looked up on the board and I was like seven in front. That was ultra impressive."
Second place finisher Secret Circle
Trainer Bob Baffert said, "We took some really nice horses there. They all ran well and had been training well. I have a great staff and (assistant trainer) Jimmy Barnes does a great job. We’ll see what this took out of them and then we’ll start talking Kentucky Derby. Oaklawn is a very kind surface and the horses have been coming back great."
Third place finisher Sabercat
Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "I was very pleased with it; it was encouraging. It was the step in the right direction we were expecting and looking for, the move forward we needed. It looked like a very good experience for him. We needed to see improvement and at this time of year, that’s the important thing in each start."
Master Rick wins the 2012 Northern Spur Stakes
The $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes featured a field of 5 three-year-olds going 1 mile. Drill was sent off as the 3-5 favorite over 8-5 second choice Explain and 5-1 third choice Master Rick.
Jockey Jon Court sent 21-1 Double Rah Rah to the lead and he set fractions of 24.10 and 48.40 while pressed by Master Rick to his inside. Entering the stretch, Master Rick moved up to take over the lead, getting 3/4 in 1:12.88, and drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths over favorite Drill in 1:36.73.
It was a long 8 lengths back to Explain third.
Results chart from DRF
Winning jockey Corey Nakatani said, "It's a great day for Steve (5 wins on the card), and I am really happy to be part of his team, and for the owners. As for the race, it shaped up a little better than I thought it would. I was biding my time and about the 1/2 mile pole I let him out a little bit and when Drill came to me I opened up a little bit on him, hoping it would work and it did."
The Bob Baffert trained Drill has enough graded stakes earnings to run in the Kentucky Derby and was entered here to try 2 turns. Baffert said before the race, "Every time I’ve tried two turns, I’ve put him in the deep end of the pool. He’s working really well, and we’ll just see how he handles it. It might give him more opportunities if he handles it."
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