For at the very least a short time, there’s a new 3-year-old atop the Kentucky Derby (G1) leaderboard with 129 qualifying factors forward of the Might 3 traditional: Sandman .
Rallying from behind a blistering tempo set by Velocity King and Cornucopian , the gifted grey and/or roan colt outkicked fellow nearer Writer  by 2 1/2 lengths to seize the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) March 29 at Oaklawn Park. Sandman, gr/ro, 3/c
Tapit — Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor
Proprietor: D. J. Stables LLC (J & L Inexperienced), St Elias Secure (V & T Viola), West Level Thoroughbreds (T Finley) & CJ Stables (C Sonson)
Breeder: Lothenbach Stables Inc (KY)
Coach: Mark E. Casse
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz
Info supplied by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Tapit stands at Gainesway for $185,000 (2025).
Sale Historical past
OBSMAR2024 • $1,200,000 • Consignor: Tom McCrocklin, for Full Dispersal for Lothenbach Stables • Purchaser: L.E.B., agent for West Level Thoroughbreds/D.J. Secure/CJ Secure.
Stewards briefly reviewed an erratic stretch run from Sandman, who drifted out beneath urging, earlier than making no change to the order of end. The winner accomplished 1 1/8 miles on a quick monitor in 1:50.08, paying $9.40 to win.
Coal Battle completed third, 4 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up. He was adopted by favored Cornucopian in fourth and longshot Brereton’s Baytown in fifth.
The Arkansas Derby awarded Kentucky Derby qualifying factors on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to its prime 5 finishers. Sandman, who already had 29 factors, now leads all different point-earners on the Street to the Kentucky Derby, although he too may very well be handed by others racing in key preps subsequent week.Join BloodHorse Each day
Regardless of. Sandman is Kentucky Derby-bound, safely within the prestigious first leg of the Triple Crown beneath the factors system that Churchill Downs officers use as a desire system when the Derby attracts past its 20-horse most area measurement.
Jose Ortiz rode the winner and in a postrace interview on horseback shortly after the race, expressed his pleasure to reunite with him within the Derby.
“When he entered the stretch, he exploded,” he mentioned of Sandman within the Arkansas Derby.
For a colt that didn’t have a lot luck in two earlier stakes begins at Oaklawn Park earlier this 12 months—Sandman had a disastrous begin when runner-up within the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes (G3) and left with an excessive amount of floor to make up in launching a belated rally for third within the Feb. 23 Insurgent Stakes (G2)—the desk was set for him within the Arkansas Derby.
When front-running Velocity King connected with the stretching-out second-time starter Cornucopian—opening up 8 1/2 lengths on Coal Battle in third by the half-mile name—the Arkansas Derby appeared primed for an off-the-pace runner to prevail.
“The farther they went (in battle), the extra assured I used to be,” mentioned Sandman’s coach, Corridor of Famer Mark Casse.
Splits of :22.46, :45.21, and 1:10.37 left the leaders gassed within the lane, although the calmly raced Cornucopian fought on admirably to earn a minor share.Â
Photograph: Coady Media/Cheyann JaramilloCornucopian (exterior) and Velocity King interact in a pace duel across the first flip of the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park
Coal Battle, who had overwhelmed Sandman within the Insurgent, was first to pounce, taking up approaching the stretch, however the diminutive, fast-accelerating colt couldn’t sustain with the longer-striding Sandman and fellow nearer Writer late in his first race past 1 1/16 miles. A size behind Sandman with a furlong remaining, he completed seven lengths behind him on the end.
Coal Battle was eager early however settled down coming into the primary flip to stalk the tempo. The Arkansas Derby marked his first loss in six dust races.
“Nicely, I feel he was too recent at the moment,” Coal Battle’s coach, Lonnie Briley, advised FanDuel Racing.
He second-guessed skipping a exercise with the colt between the Insurgent and Arkansas Derby.
“I wanted 4 works (in) him and I bought three, and it confirmed at the moment,” he added.Â
Primarily based on historic traits, the runner-up with 60 total factors and present finisher with 95 factors may even acquire entry into the Kentucky Derby.
Sandman’s Pedgiree, Public sale Historical past
Sandman is a grey and/or roan by Tapit  out of the Distorted Humor mare Distorted Music owned by D. J. Secure, St Elias Secure, West Level Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables.Â
The all-time main sire by earnings, Tapit stands for $185,000 at Gainesway in Kentucky.
Sandman’s house owners bought him for $1.2 million from the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Gross sales March Sale of 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching. Tom McCrocklin consigned him there as a part of an entire dispersal for his breeder, Lothenbach Stables. This dispersal adopted Bob Lothenbach of Lothenbach Stables’ dying in November 2023 at age 64.
Photograph: Coady Media/McCarlee PerkinsSandman
4 of the dam’s 5 foals of racing age have began, with three victorious. Sandman grew to become his dam’s second graded stakes winner following She Cannot Sing , who captured the Chilukki Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in 2022. The unraced foal is a 2-year-old Into Mischief  colt.
The Arkansas Derby, the richest home Kentucky Derby prep race on the Street to the Kentucky Derby, has produced eight Kentucky Derby winners, together with final 12 months’s Derby winner, Mystik Dan . Mystik Dan ran third within the Arkansas Derby.
Three horses have gained each races: Sunny’s Halo (1983), Smarty Jones (2004), and Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh (2015).
Regardless of the blistering tempo in Saturday’s race, Sandman’s time was slower than these posted over the prior two runnings. Muth  , final 12 months’s winner, was timed in 1:49.54, and Angel of Empire  ran 1:49.68 in taking the 2023 race.
A Derby Alternative for Casse
For Casse, Sandman represents one in all his greatest profession probabilities to win the Kentucky Derby after 10 defeats. The coach has already gained the opposite two legs of the Triple Crown, taking the 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) with Warfare of Will  and that 12 months’s Belmont Stakes (G1) with Sir Winston  .Â
2017 Arkansas Derby winner Traditional Empire , the champion 2-year-old male of 2016, gave Casse his greatest Derby end in operating a troubled fourth within the 2017 race.Â
Casse believes Sandman is a horse who will relish the Derby’s 1 1/4-mile distance.
“As Jose mentioned, he desires you to get right into a rhythm, and if you will get him into that rhythm, he’ll simply go. Jose mentioned he did not take a deep breath when he pulled up,” the coach famous
Video: Arkansas Derby (G1)
