Improbable Looks to Make Amends in Arkansas Derby

'TDN Rising Star' Improbable (City Zip) lost his perfect record by a neck in his last visit to Oaklawn for the split GII Rebel S. Mar. 16 and he will attempt to make amends in Hot Springs Saturday in the GI Arkansas Derby. A debut winner at Santa Anita Sept. 29, the chestnut captured the Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs next out Nov. 2 and followed suit with a win in the GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity S. Dec. 8. Originally set to make his seasonal bow in Arcadia, the Bob Baffert pupil was re-routed to the Rebel after racing was temporarily suspended at Santa Anita and he was run down late by Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy). Improbable adds blinkers for this start. A two-time stakes winner as a juvenile, Long Range Toddy was third in the Feb. 18 GIII Southwest S. prior to his Rebel upset.

The Rebel was split into two divisions to accommodate the California contenders and the second division winner Omaha Beach (War Front) also returns here. Never off the board, the Richard Mandella pupil took a little time to come around, but romped by nine lengths at fifth asking in a seven-panel test at Santa Anita Feb. 2. Taking the lead in the first half-mile of the Rebel, he maintained his advantage in the lane, where he was confronted by previously undefeated champion Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}). Omaha Beach had just enough to hold that rival at bay, winning by a nose in a tight photo.

Smarty Jones S. winner Gray Attempt (Graydar) could do no better than 11th in the Southwest, but came back to win the six-panel Gazebo S. last time Mar. 23. The question for this colt will be whether or not he can navigate this distance.

MSW Galilean (Uncle Mo) returns to Hot Springs after finishing third behind Long Range Toddy and Improbable. The bay, who was recently bought into by Coolmore, sheds his blinkers in this test. Another worth a look is 'TDN Rising Star' Country House (Lookin at Lucky), who finished fourth last time in the GII Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Mar. 23.