NEWS
Papa Clem wins Arkansas Derby - with video
Posted: Saturday, April 11, 2009 7:09 PM
PAPA CLEM
Sunny Taylor/Coady Photography
To view video of the Arkansas Derby, click here.
by Mike Curry
Papa Clem gradually wore down game pacesetter Old Fashioned to win the $1-million Arkansas Derby (G2) on Saturday at Oaklawn Park and pick up his first career stakes win.
The Smart Strike colt also cemented his credentials as a contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and secured more than enough graded stakes earnings to earn a starting spot in the field for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano rated Papa Clem in fifth as Old Fashioned set a brisk pace in the 1 1/8-mile race, and when Bejarano roused Papa Clem on the final turn he uncoiled his winning bid. Papa Clem swept into contention from the outside of the pacesetter and pushed a head in front in early stretch, but even-money favorite Old Fashioned fought back gamely.
Papa Clem steadily inched away inside the sixteenth pole to prevail by a half-length in 1:49.01 on a track rated as fast.
“I thought he would show a little more speed than that,” Bejarano said. “At the three-eighths [pole], I still felt like I had a lot of horse.”
Smarty Jones Stakes winner Flat Out broke alertly, but Southwest Stakes (G3) winner Old Fashioned quickly surged past to set the tempo with Ziegfeld, Danger to Society, and Flat Out positioned in the second tier of runners. Papa Clem raced comfortably in fifth while Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Win Willy was rated in ninth then eighth by Cliff Berry through an opening quarter in :22.65 and a half-mile in :46.19.
Flat Out accelerated on the turn to challenge Old Fashioned but flattened out in the stretch, where Papa Clem shifted gears and unleashed his winning move.
Papa Clem finished second this year in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) prior to his breakthrough win in the Arkansas Derby (click here for video of the Robert B. Lewis and click here for video of the Louisiana Derby). With $760,000 in graded stakes earnings, which is used to determine the field for the Kentucky Derby if more than 20 horses are entered, Papa Clem punched his ticket to Louisville.
Old Fashioned finished three-quarters of a length in front of fast-closing Summer Bird, a maiden winner making his third career start. Win Willy rallied to finish fourth, followed by Flying Private and Flat Out.
Papa Clem improved to two wins and two seconds in six starts and boosted his earnings to $790,940. He is out of Grade 1 winner Miss Houdini, by Belong to Me.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
To view video of the Arkansas Derby, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
