Six runners will contest the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. Concert Tour is the raging-hot favorite to take the final prep race for the Kentucky Derby Odds.
The Arkansas Derby is one of the most important preps. Some of the turf’s greatest champions have won, including Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Curlin, and Smarty Jones.
It’s a wide-open Kentucky Derby market and bettors could see the winner come out of the 2021 Arkansas Derby.
2021 Arkansas Race Details
- Time: Saturday, April 10, 7:41 p.m
- Track: Oaklawn Park
- Surface: Dirt
- Distance: 1 1/8 Miles
- Stake: $1 million
- Where to watch: NBCSN
2021 Arkansas Derby Field
A field of six lines up for the 2021 Arkansas Derby, featuring three runners quoted at single-figure odds.
1. Super Stock
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr
Record: 7 starts – 1 win – 2 seconds – 2 thirds
Odds: 12-1
2. Caddo River
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 7-2
3. Hozier
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia
Record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Odds: 4-1
4. Get Her Number
Trainer: Peter Miller
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta
Record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 12-1
5. Concert Tour
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Record: 3 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 3-5
6. Last Samurai
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Jon Court
Record: 4 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Odds: 30-1
Arkansas Derby Top Pick – Concert Tour
It’s easy to pick the 3-5 online betting favorite, but there is no better-performed runner in the 2021 Arkansas Derby.
The highly regarded runner for Bob Baffert is unbeaten after three starts and has looked impressive in everyone.
Concert Tour comes off a win in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, so not only has he yet to taste defeat, he has experience winning at this track.
Concert Tour Stops at Oaklawn Again for Arkansas Derby https://t.co/Uxv6kvsEWR @BobEhalt #TC2021 pic.twitter.com/2icocSu1Sz
— BloodHorse (@BloodHorse) April 7, 2021
The 4¼-length win was an outstanding show of speed as he left the field in his wake. It was the run of a potential Kentucky Derby-winning hope, so he goes on top of the selections.
A worry is that he will get taken on in front by Caddo River. However, Joel Rosario is a classy jockey and he should sum up the situation best.
Owner Gary West believes Concert Tour will need to be better to keep his unbeaten streak alive.
“I think Caddo River is a nice horse,” West told BloodHorse.com. I thought Rosario caught (Florent Geroux) off-guard. He thought he made the lead but Joel got the jump on him. I thought it looked like Caddo River resented running behind us.
“I think it will be a much better horse race this time. We’ll have to run faster and harder than we did last time to beat him. The good thing about Concert Tour is that he does not appear to need the lead to win a race. I don’t know this for a fact, but I believe he’ll pass horses.”
3-5 is a short price, but backing against the favorite would be a brave move.
Arkansas Derby Best Value – Caddo River
There is confidence surrounding Caddo River and we’re not going to overlook the value odds at the online racebook.
A good price for a runner that will derive plenty of benefit from his recent effort in the Rebel Stakes is 7-2. He was unable to find the lead on that occasion, so the break will be all-important here.
If the Brad Cox-trained son of Hard Spun manages to find the lead, it could change the complex of the race. We don’t give him much chance of running down Concert Tour, but he’s strong enough to hold off a challenge down the stretch.
His win in the Smarty Jones Stakes came on this track, where he kicked away effortlessly. That bodes well for this race and he looks the logical quinella hope with the favorite.
Arkansas Derby Best Roughie – Super Stock
It will take a herculean effort to beat the favorites, but upset results have been common in the Kentucky Derby lead-up races.
Super Stock got the better of Caddo River in the Rebel Stakes, finishing fourth and 6½ lengths behind Concert Tour. He didn’t come close to winning, but he was hitting the line well enough to grab our attention.
He owns a placing behind Essential Quality and Steve Asmussen knows how to get the best out of his runners.
The odds are worth taking on an each-way basis.
