Overview

• Sandman, trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Jose Ortiz, won the Arkansas Derby with a strong tactical performance, finishing the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:50.08.
• The victory earned Sandman 100 points, placing him at the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 129 points.
• Bob Baffert's Cornucopian, the 8-5 favorite, finished fourth, securing only 15 points and raising questions about his readiness for the Kentucky Derby.
• Coal Battle, trained by Lonnie Briley, secured third place, adding to his points tally and maintaining his reputation as a formidable contender.
• The Arkansas Derby, a pivotal Grade 1 race with a $1.5 million purse, highlighted the competitive field and Sandman’s potential for the upcoming Kentucky Derby.