2016 Arkansas Derby contenders put in final works
The G1 $1 million 2016 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 16 is one of the last shots for 3YO contenders to earn points for a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby on May 7.
The Arkansas Derby is one of the two final races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and is worth a total of 170 points. The eventual winner pockets 100 points, 40 points go to the runner-up, the third place finisher gets 20, and the fourth place horse will count 10 towards his total.
The Lexington at Keeneland is the other final derby prep and it’s worth a meager 17 points with the winner getting just 10 of those so it’s a “tie-breaker” of sorts.
Probable starters for the 2016 Arkansas Derby include Suddenbreakingnews and Whitmore the top two finishers in the G3 Southwest stakes run on February 15. Both runners put in their final works for the race on Saturday.
The Southwest winner Suddenbreakingnews worked a 1/2 mile in :48.40. Runner-up Whitmore worked the 1/2 in :48.80 over the fast Oaklawn surface.
The Arkansas Derby is the feature race on closing day at Oaklawn.
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