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Saturday's Arkansas Derby Day at Oaklawn Park features a 2 Million 1/ST Rewards Point Hit & Split when you play through 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. Races 11-14 make up the sequence, which includes the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile and the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby. A couple of 11-runner maiden races add depth to the late pick 4, which gets underway at 6:22 pm ET.
I’m extremely focused on this ticket with 3 singles, 2 of which are not the morning line chalks, and will be punching multiple units on the streamlined number of combinations. Let’s get to work.
Oaklawn: Race 11 | $500,000 Oaklawn Mile
I have a ton of respect for the resumes in this race, including a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile score by 2-1 morning line favorite Full Serrano, another Grade 1 by East Avenue at Keeneland and the rags to riches run last year by Coal Battle through the Kentucky Derby. But the now horse is Nu What’s New, and this Jimmy DiVito trainee proved that his maiden and allowance romps were no fluke when running a dynamite second in the Razorback behind the high-class Magnitude. He’ll get Luis Saez back, and while there’s other early speed in the race, none of them have kicked late with strong BRIS late pace figures like his. I’m singling Nu What’s Nu as the 3-1 morning line second choice, but if you’re gambling intra-race, Neoquous and Gun Party may have some interest underneath at 12-1 ML prices.
Oaklawn: Race 12 | maiden
In a race over 9 furlongs in which nearly every horse in the race has running lines where they’re losing margin on the winners over the final call, Banksy’s should absolutely roll by late. He’s run second in both career outings, earning a 91 and then a 101 BRIS late pace figure, the latter coming when stretched out around 2 turns. There’s plenty of distance pedigree and he served noticed March 20 with a bullet workout. He’s the 2-1 morning line second choice as Kelz comes in from Fair Grounds with 9-5 ML favoritism. Two-deep will be the approach for many in this race, but I’d rather make the single and be in for double the payout on the same-priced ticket.
Oaklawn: Race 13 | $1.5 million Arkansas Derby
Renegade, the 3-2 morning line favorite, was the most visually impressive stakes winner so far on the Kentucky Derby trail in 2026 when striding home convincingly in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. If he’s maintained that form or improved, he’ll be a handful in the 1-1/8 miles Arkansas Derby following a flashy 111 BRIS late pace figure. Todd Pletcher opted not to return his Rebel Stakes winner Class President in order to fill this slot with Renegade; that one goes next week in the Blue Grass or Wood Memorial. The Arkansas Derby pace looks honest and Irad Ortiz Jr. – who drops the mount on Fountain of Youth winner Commandment in the Florida Derby to ride here – should have him rolling late. The other main player, Silent Tactic, employs the same style. I won’t go 2-deep for that reason. If the race sets up for a closer, Renegade is the superior animal. I don’t like any of the early pace players to surprise.
Oaklawn: Race 14 | maiden
Arkansas-breds round out Derby Day and note this race for 3-year-olds and up has only 2 elders, the 4-year-olds Whitley and Own My Destiny. Whitley is the 7-5 morning line favorite and has been solid in all 3 starts while the beaten favorite each time. Irad Ortiz Jr. is going to draw a lot of money and helps the cause, but the cold nature of the Ron Moquett barn this season and the colt’s 3 losses as a favorite give reason to add coverage. Own My Destiny raced in open company at Delta Downs and was traveling easy, wasn’t urged on the turn, and then came back on a bit in the lane but the winner was already clear on the short stretch. He’s 20-1 morning line, sire Hamazing Destiny was a top-class sprinter over this track and this will be my sneaky, upset choice. I’m also including the fast-working debut runner Our Vekoma Ride (10-1 morning line). The Matt Shirer trainee had 6 perfectly spaced works for the debut and lures Luis Saez (jockey-trainer combo a very strong 6-16 together since the start of 2025).
The Ticket:
7 with 2 with 6 with 3,2,5 = $1.50 for each 50-cent play
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