Steve Landers' Dazzling Gem (Misremembered) has been given the green light to compete in Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby after working four furlongs in :49.40 at Oaklawn Park Saturday. The lightly raced colt won his first two starts at the Arkansas track before running third in Mar. 26 GII Louisiana Derby. His Louisiana Derby effort earned him 20 points towards a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby starting gate and he currently ranks 26th on the list of 20 possible starters. “We went from 14th to 25th or 26th on the list,” trainer Brad Cox said after results from Saturday's Derby preps were calculated. “If we want to run in the Derby, we need to earn a spot–not just fall into it. He's doing good; obviously, worked well. We wanted to see that before we decided where we were going to go.”
Two expected Arkansas Derby contenders worked half-miles at Oaklawn Sunday. Gray Sky (Tapit) went in :50 for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Luna de Loco (Malibu Moon) went in :49 for Steve Asmussen.
Other scheduled Arkansas Derby starters are: American Pioneer (Awesome Again), Creator (Tapit), Cupid (Tapit), Discreetness (Discreet Cat), Gettysburg (Pioneerof the Nile), Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft), Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song) and Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect). Cutacorner (Even the Score) and Tisdale (Friesan Fire) remain under consideration for the race.
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