'Rising Star' to Regroup in Arkansas Derby

Uncontested winning the Smarty Jones S. | Coady photography

'TDN Rising Star' Uncontested (Tiz Wonderful), a latest sixth to One Liner (Into Mischief) after setting a good early pace in Monday's GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park, will skip the GII Rebel S. Mar. 18 and will instead train up to the $1-million GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 15, co-owner Harry Rosenblum told the Oaklawn notes team Wednesday.

“He's perfectly fine,” Rosenblum said after visiting his horse, adding that Monday's race was a “throw out.” He continued, “He looks good. We're tickled with where we are with him now and you're probably going to see the horse back in the Arkansas Derby. We haven't lost any confidence in our horse. I think we just draw a line through this race, and congratulations to the horses that finished ahead of us.”

Accorded Rising Star status off a powerhouse six-length debut success at Keeneland last October, Uncontested was a good fourth, beaten just five lengths, to pro-tem divisional leader and fellow Rising Star McCraken (Ghostzapper) in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 26. The dark bay, a $20,000 Keeneland September graduate, set a stakes record in winning the Jan. 16 Smarty Jones S., scoring by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:36.32.

While Rosenblum would like nothing more than to win the Arkansas Derby at his home track, he is also considering out-of-town engagements, including the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 8.

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