By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1), Oaklawn Park – Race 12

The Arkansas Derby drew a field of eleven 3-year-olds that will compete on the Kentucky Derby trail for qualifying points of 100-40-30-20-10 that are available to the top five eligible finishers. (7) Rocket Can is a proven quantity on the Kentucky Derby trail with a win in the Holy Bull (G3) and then a second in the Fountain of Youth (G2) behind only the division leader Forte. A close look at his past performances shows that in every race he ran against very good horses. Bill Mott horses can get overlooked in big races especially when there are talented opponents from the barns of Brad Cox, Steve Asmussen, and the Baffert to Yakteen team. (8) Reincarnate will get plenty of attention for his third in the Rebel (G2) after his much-discussed bad trip. He broke badly, found more trouble in the stretch, and still finished third. He has only top three finishes including a win in the Sham (G3) for Baffert. Except for the Rebel, the horses that he faced were not part of the Kentucky Derby discussion at this point. (10) Red Route One probably has enough points to qualify for the Run for the Roses. He was a deep closer in the Southwest (G3) and the Rebel when he was second and now Asmussen takes the opportunity to put blinkers on with the hope that he will not get so far behind early. I like this strategy from Asmussen. (4) Two Eagles River has only top three finishes in five starts with his best speed figure coming in his recent four length allowance victory over Disarm who was second last weekend in the Louisiana Derby. Betting strategy:  Exacta box: 4, 7, 8, 10. Trifecta box: 4, 7, 8, 10.