FS1 to air Saturday’s G1 Arkansas Derby on America’s Day at the Races

by Pat McKenna

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national racing broadcast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will feature live coverage of Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park

Saturday’s broadcast of America’s Day at the Races, which will feature live racing from Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park, kicks off on FS2 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern before shifting to FS1 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The 86th renewal of the nine-furlong Arkansas Derby, which offers 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, is slated as Race 12 from Oaklawn Park with a post time of 7:35 p.m.

Laffit Pincay III will host Saturday’s coverage from Oaklawn alongside Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens with live reporting from Maggie Wolfendale. Greg Wolf will host the coverage from Aqueduct with analysis to be provided by Andy Serling, Richard Migliore, Anthony Stabile and New York-based trainer Rick Schosberg. 

Adding considerable intrigue to this year’s competitive nine-horse Arkansas Derby field is the filly Secret Oath. Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Secret Oath enters on the strength of three straight open-length victories at Oaklawn Park, and already has earned enough points to qualify for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. But Lukas, who captured the 1988 Run for the Roses with filly Winning Colors, will look to qualify Secret Oath for the Kentucky Derby in Saturday’s test. Luis Contreras retains the mount from post 6.

Steep opposition will be provided by New York-bred gelding Un Ojo, who finished second in the Grade 3 Withers on February 5 at the Big A ahead of a half-length score three weeks later in the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn. Ramon Vazquez will pilot Un Ojo from post 5 for trainer Ricky Courville.

The Arkansas Derby is one of four stakes on Saturday’s lucrative card from Oaklawn Park, including the $200,000 Carousel [Race 5, 3:19 p.m.]; the Grade 3, $400,000 Oaklawn Mile [Race 9, 5:40 p.m.]; and the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy [Race 10, 6:16 p.m.] which offers 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

Saturday’s nine-race card from Aqueduct is headlined by the $150,000 Excelsior [Race 8, 5:13 p.m.], a nine-furlong test for older horses featuring a pair of contenders for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in First Constitution and Untreated.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the spring meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.