2019 Arkansas Derby

about this race

Race Info
History

Favored Fox Hill Farm's Omaha Beach grabbed the lead on the backstretch and then kept Improbable at bay in the stretch to capture the $1 million, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park April 13.

“I was just hoping he'd hang in there [in the stretch] and he did,” winning trainer Richard Mandella said.

With 100-40-20-10 qualifying points going to the top four finishers, Omaha Beach (137.5 points), Improbable (65), and third-place finisher Country House (50) secured spots in the field of 20 for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

Favored Fox Hill Farm's Omaha Beach grabbed the lead on the backstretch and then kept Improbable at bay in the stretch to capture the $1 million, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park April 13.

“I was just hoping he'd hang in there [in the stretch] and he did,” winning trainer Richard Mandella said.

With 100-40-20-10 qualifying points going to the top four finishers, Omaha Beach (137.5 points), Improbable (65), and third-place finisher Country House (50) secured spots in the field of 20 for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

Laughing Fox finished fourth. Final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:49.91.

Prior to Saturday, six of the last eight betting favorites in the Arkansas Derby were trained by Bob Baffert, who sent out second choice Improbable. Included in that group is 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, the last winner of both the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby.

Read MoreRead Less

Fastest Time (since 1976): 1:46:80
Greatest Winning Margin (since 1976): 10 1/2 lengths

Date	Past Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Owner
03/28/2025	Sandman Trainer / Mark E. Casse Jockey / Jose L. Ortiz Owner / D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables	Mark E. Casse	Jose L. Ortiz	D. J. Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables
03/29/2024	Muth Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Juan J. Hernandez Owner / Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.	Bob Baffert	Juan J. Hernandez	Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.
03/31/2023	Angel of Empire Trainer / Brad H. Cox Jockey / Flavien Prat Owner / Albaugh Family Stables LLC	Brad H. Cox	Flavien Prat	Albaugh Family Stables LLC
04/01/2022	Cyberknife Trainer / Brad H. Cox Jockey / Florent Geroux Owner / Gold Square LLC	Brad H. Cox	Florent Geroux	Gold Square LLC
04/09/2021	Super Stock Trainer / Steven M. Asmussen Jockey / Ricardo Santana, Jr. Owner / Woolsey, Erv and Asmussen, Keith	Steven M. Asmussen	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	Woolsey, Erv and Asmussen, Keith
05/01/2020	Charlatan Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Martin Garcia Owner / SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Hertrich, III, Frederick, Fielding, John D. and Golconda Stables	Bob Baffert	Martin Garcia	SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Hertrich, III, Frederick, Fielding, John D. and Golconda Stables
05/01/2020	Nadal Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Joel Rosario Owner / Bolton, George, Hoyeau, Arthur, Lipman, Barry and Mathiesen, Mark	Bob Baffert	Joel Rosario	Bolton, George, Hoyeau, Arthur, Lipman, Barry and Mathiesen, Mark
04/12/2019	Omaha Beach Trainer / Richard E. Mandella Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Fox Hill Farms, Inc.	Richard E. Mandella	Mike E. Smith	Fox Hill Farms, Inc.
04/13/2018	Magnum Moon Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / Luis Saez Owner / Low, Lawana L. and Robert E.	Todd A. Pletcher	Luis Saez	Low, Lawana L. and Robert E.
04/14/2017	Classic Empire Trainer / Mark E. Casse Jockey / Julien R. Leparoux Owner / John C. Oxley	Mark E. Casse	Julien R. Leparoux	John C. Oxley
04/15/2016	Creator Trainer / Steven M. Asmussen Jockey / Ricardo Santana, Jr. Owner / WinStar Farm LLC	Steven M. Asmussen	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	WinStar Farm LLC
04/10/2015	American Pharoah Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Victor Espinoza Owner / Zayat Stables, LLC	Bob Baffert	Victor Espinoza	Zayat Stables, LLC
04/11/2014	Danza Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / Joe Bravo Owner / Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners	Todd A. Pletcher	Joe Bravo	Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
04/12/2013	Overanalyze Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / Rafael Bejarano Owner / Repole Stable	Todd A. Pletcher	Rafael Bejarano	Repole Stable
04/13/2012	Bodemeister Trainer / Bob Baffert Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Zayat Stables, LLC	Bob Baffert	Mike E. Smith	Zayat Stables, LLC
04/15/2011	Archarcharch Trainer / William H. Fires Jockey / Jon Kenton Court Owner / Yagos, Robert and Loval	William H. Fires	Jon Kenton Court	Yagos, Robert and Loval
04/09/2010	Line of David Trainer / John W. Sadler Jockey / Jon Kenton Court Owner / Thrash, Ike and Dawn	John W. Sadler	Jon Kenton Court	Thrash, Ike and Dawn
04/10/2009	Papa Clem Trainer / Gary Stute Jockey / Rafael Bejarano Owner / Bo Hirsch	Gary Stute	Rafael Bejarano	Bo Hirsch
04/11/2008	Gayego Trainer / Paulo H. Lobo Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Cubanacan Stables	Paulo H. Lobo	Mike E. Smith	Cubanacan Stables
04/13/2007	Curlin Trainer / Steven M. Asmussen Jockey / Robby Albarado Owner / Stonestreet Stables, Padua Stables, Bolton, George and Midnight Cry Stables	Steven M. Asmussen	Robby Albarado	Stonestreet Stables, Padua Stables, Bolton, George and Midnight Cry Stables
04/14/2006	Lawyer Ron Trainer / Robert E. Holthus Jockey / John McKee Owner / Estate of James T. Hines, Jr.	Robert E. Holthus	John McKee	Estate of James T. Hines, Jr.
04/15/2005	Afleet Alex Trainer / Timothy F. Ritchey Jockey / Jeremy Rose Owner / Cash is King LLC	Timothy F. Ritchey	Jeremy Rose	Cash is King LLC
04/09/2004	Smarty Jones Trainer / John C. Servis Jockey / Stewart Elliott Owner / Someday Farm	John C. Servis	Stewart Elliott	Someday Farm
04/11/2003	Sir Cherokee Trainer / Michael A. Tomlinson Jockey / Terry J. Thompson Owner / Domino Stud of Lex LLC	Michael A. Tomlinson	Terry J. Thompson	Domino Stud of Lex LLC
04/12/2002	Private Emblem Trainer / Steven M. Asmussen Jockey / Donnie J. Meche Owner / Cassels, James and Zollars, Bob	Steven M. Asmussen	Donnie J. Meche	Cassels, James and Zollars, Bob
04/13/2001	Balto Star Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / Mark Guidry Owner / Anstu Stables, Inc.	Todd A. Pletcher	Mark Guidry	Anstu Stables, Inc.
04/14/2000	Graeme Hall Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / Robby Albarado Owner / Melnyk, Eugene and Laura	Todd A. Pletcher	Robby Albarado	Melnyk, Eugene and Laura
04/09/1999	Certain Trainer / Leo Azpurua, Jr. Jockey / Kent J. Desormeaux Owner / Williams, Jo and Bush	Leo Azpurua, Jr.	Kent J. Desormeaux	Williams, Jo and Bush
04/10/1998	Victory Gallop Trainer / W. Elliott Walden Jockey / Alex O. Solis Owner / Prestonwood Farm LLC	W. Elliott Walden	Alex O. Solis	Prestonwood Farm LLC
04/11/1997	Crypto Star Trainer / Wayne M. Catalano Jockey / Pat Day Owner / Yates, Darrell and Evelyn	Wayne M. Catalano	Pat Day	Yates, Darrell and Evelyn
04/12/1996	Zarb's Magic Trainer / W. Bret Thomas Jockey / Ronald D. Ardoin Owner / Foxwood Plantation, Ltd.	W. Bret Thomas	Ronald D. Ardoin	Foxwood Plantation, Ltd.
04/21/1995	Dazzling Falls Trainer / Chuck Turco Jockey / Garrett K. Gomez Owner / Chateau Ridge Farm Inc	Chuck Turco	Garrett K. Gomez	Chateau Ridge Farm Inc
04/22/1994	Concern Trainer / Richard W. Small Jockey / Garrett K. Gomez Owner / Robert E. Meyerhoff	Richard W. Small	Garrett K. Gomez	Robert E. Meyerhoff
04/16/1993	Rockamundo Trainer / Orin J. Glass, Jr. Jockey / Calvin H. Borel Owner / Mary & Gary West	Orin J. Glass, Jr.	Calvin H. Borel	Mary & Gary West
04/17/1992	Pine Bluff Trainer / Thomas K. Bohannan Jockey / Jerry D. Bailey Owner / Loblolly Stable	Thomas K. Bohannan	Jerry D. Bailey	Loblolly Stable
04/19/1991	Olympio Trainer / Ronald L. McAnally Jockey / Eddie J. Delahoussaye Owner / unknown owner	Ronald L. McAnally	Eddie J. Delahoussaye	unknown owner
04/20/1990	Silver Ending Trainer / Ronald L. McAnally Jockey / Gary L. Stevens Owner / Costanza & McAnally Deborah	Ronald L. McAnally	Gary L. Stevens	Costanza & McAnally Deborah
04/21/1989	Dansil Trainer / Frank L. Brothers Jockey / Larry Snyder Owner / Franks John	Frank L. Brothers	Larry Snyder	Franks John
04/22/1988	Proper Reality Trainer / Robert E. Holthus Jockey / Jerry D. Bailey Owner / Winn Mrs James A	Robert E. Holthus	Jerry D. Bailey	Winn Mrs James A
04/17/1987	Demons Begone Trainer / Philip M. Hauswald Jockey / Pat Day Owner / Loblolly Stable	Philip M. Hauswald	Pat Day	Loblolly Stable
04/18/1986	Rampage Trainer / Gary A. Thomas Jockey / Pat Day Owner / Reed H J & Nancy	Gary A. Thomas	Pat Day	Reed H J & Nancy
04/19/1985	Tank's Prospect Trainer / D. Wayne Lukas Jockey / Gary L. Stevens Owner / Klein Mr-Mrs E V	D. Wayne Lukas	Gary L. Stevens	Klein Mr-Mrs E V
04/20/1984	Althea Trainer / D. Wayne Lukas Jockey / Patrick A. Valenzuela Owner / Alexander & Aykroyd & Groves	D. Wayne Lukas	Patrick A. Valenzuela	Alexander & Aykroyd & Groves
04/15/1983	Sunny's Halo Trainer / David C. Cross, Jr. Jockey / Eddie J. Delahoussaye Owner / Foster D J Racing Stable	David C. Cross, Jr.	Eddie J. Delahoussaye	Foster D J Racing Stable
04/09/1982	Hostage Trainer / Willard C. Freeman Jockey / Jeff Fell Owner / Hexter Mrs P L	Willard C. Freeman	Jeff Fell	Hexter Mrs P L
04/10/1981	Bold Ego Trainer / Dennis Werre Jockey / John Lively Owner / Double B Ranch & Kidd	Dennis Werre	John Lively	Double B Ranch & Kidd
04/11/1980	Temperence Hill Trainer / Joseph B. Cantey Jockey / D. Haire Owner / Loblolly Stable	Joseph B. Cantey	D. Haire	Loblolly Stable
04/13/1979	Golden Act Trainer / Loren Rettele Jockey / Sandy Hawley Owner / Oldknow & Phipps	Loren Rettele	Sandy Hawley	Oldknow & Phipps
03/31/1978	Esops Foibles Trainer / Loren Rettele Jockey / Chris J. McCarron Owner / Frankel J	Loren Rettele	Chris J. McCarron	Frankel J
04/01/1977	Clev Er Tell Trainer / Homer C. Pardue Jockey / Ray Broussard Owner / Proler & Straus	Homer C. Pardue	Ray Broussard	Proler & Straus
04/02/1976	Elocutionist Trainer / Paul T. Adwell Jockey / John Lively Owner / Cashman E C	Paul T. Adwell	John Lively	Cashman E C