HOT SPRINGS -- Classic Empire punched his ticket for the Kentucky Derby and shut up his critics, at least for now.
Classic Empire was the 2-year-old male champion after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and earning more than $1.4 million, but in his first race this year -- the Feb. 7 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park -- he finished third, nearly 9 lengths behind the winner.
Then, there was his refusal to train at Palm Beach Training Center in south Florida. That gave doubters plenty of ammunition to shoot down the champion, but he bounced back and trained well.
He ended up being the 9-5 favorite Saturday, in front of an estimated crowd of 62,500 at Oaklawn Park, and ran a perfect race, settling close to the leaders in a pack of seven, never more than 3 lengths behind. In the stretch, the son of Pioneerof the Nile finished strong when asked for his best, meaning the 1¼-mile Kentucky Derby distance shouldn't be a problem.
There was some bumping going on deep stretch, as jockeys tried to fire some life into their mounts, but Classic Empire already was clearing the field to give Oaklawn Park hope that another one of its horses can add a Triple Crown jewel to the track's resume.
Just four years after Instant Racing was born in 2004, thoroughbred racing changed forever at Oaklawn Park.
Once a nice track that lived in the shadows of the giants on the coasts, Oaklawn Park became a major player in the Triple Crown races where the most coveted trophies in racing -- the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and Belmont Stakes -- are awarded.
It was not a coincidence the field for the 81st running of the Arkansas Derby had 12 entrants. Success breeds success, and Oaklawn has proven to be a breeding ground of champions.
Since 2004, Oaklawn has produced three Kentucky Derby winners, seven Preakness winners and four Belmont winners.
In addition to big victories, horses who trained or raced in Hot Springs hit the board, running second or third, another 20 times in Triple Crown races. It started with Smarty Jones, who won the Southwest Stakes, Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby in 2004 before winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. A victory in the Belmont Stakes and a Triple Crown were within sight of the wire when Birdstone ran him down at Belmont Park.
It was an awakening for the racing world, but no one would have fathomed 11 years later that what had seemed to have become mission impossible would become a reality when American Pharoah used the Rebel Stakes and the Arkansas Derby to prepare for winning the Triple Crown, ending a 37-year drought.
Now, near Oaklawn's south entrance, there is a beautiful sculpture of American Pharoah in full stride; no doubt in years to come there will be countless pictures of the sculpture taken by tourists.
Classic Empire and American Pharoah share their sire, Pioneerof the Nile.
Of course, Derby day isn't just about the Arkansas Derby. It is a Smarty Party jammed full of good times and good racing.
Oaklawn-based Whitmore crushed the Count Fleet field. A year ago he was running in the Arkansas Derby, but after faltering in the Kentucky Derby trainer Ron Moquett realized Whitmore wasn't bred to go more than a mile. He's now 4 for 4 in sprint races, and his three victories this year are good for a total of $360,000 in winnings.
Cistron flew in from California for the Northern Spur, and he will take that trophy back to Santa Anita.
Things didn't go well for shippers in the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap as odds-on-favorite Midnight Storm, a Southern California regular, went out too fast and hit 6 furlongs in a blazing 1:10.60. Oaklawn-based Inside Straight fought off traffic at the head of the stretch, got by the millionaire favorite and won by 2 lengths to return $41.40 to his supporters. Domain's Rap, a 9-year-old gelding who has earned $531,700 in nine Hot Springs starts the past two seasons, finished second.
All in all, it was a typical Arkansas Derby day, and a champion got back on track, taking a big step toward the Kentucky Derby.
Sports on 04/16/2017