Bold Conquest, Mr. Z tune up for Arkansas Derby

Bold Conquest is coming off a third-place finish in the $750,000 Rebel (G2)

March 14.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) is headed to the

Arkansas Derby following a half-mile work in company Monday morning, the colt's

first breeze since finishing last in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby (G2) March 28

at Fair Grounds.

Lukas said Mr. Z, who is again equipped with blinkers, is scheduled to be

ridden for the first time Saturday by Ramon Vazquez, Oaklawn's second-leading

jockey this year.

Although Zayat Stables also owns champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the

Nile), who will be heavily favored in the Arkansas Derby, Lukas noted a high

finish Saturday would insure Mr. Z a berth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The

Arkansas Derby -- as a Kentucky Derby qualifying race -- offers 100 points to

the winner, 40 to second, 20 to third and 10 to fourth. Points in designated

races determine eligibility if more than the maximum 20 horses enter. Mr. Z

currently ranks 30th with 14 points.

"I think he's still on the radar for the Derby," Lukas said. "If he were to

run in the first three, or something like that, he would earn a spot. That's the

other side of the coin."

Mr. Z and Hillbilly Style (Malibu Moon), a three-year-old stablemate, breezed

about 10 minutes after the track opened for training Monday. Both horses were

credited with :48 1/5.

"I thought he worked well," Lukas said.

Mr. Z came to Oaklawn as a leading Kentucky Derby candidate, but finished

third in the track's $150,000 Smarty Jones January 19 and $300,000 Southwest

(G3) February 22 before finishing last in the Louisiana Derby. Lukas said he had

no explanation for Mr. Z's poor performance in the Louisiana Derby, but added

the blinkers off experiment didn't work.

Mr. Z had worn blinkers in his last five starts, including narrow losses in

the $1 million Delta Jackpot (G3) and $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G1).

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com