Conquest Titan looks to step up in Arkansas Derby

On the strength of his outstanding breeze March 29, Conquest Stables'

Conquest Titan remains on target for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at

Oaklawn April 12. The colt is currently one of seven horses leaning toward the 1

1/8-mile race. The other likely starters are Tapiture, Strong Mandate, Ride On

Curlin, Bayern, Commissioner and Danza.

"He worked really well the other day at Palm Meadows," trainer Mark Casse

said while referring to the colt's five-furlong move in 1:00 3/5, which was the

second fastest of 20 horses working the same distance. "We moved him to

Churchill Downs with the rest of the gang and the plan is to breeze him a little

there this weekend, and if all goes well, we're going to Hot Springs."

The Arkansas Derby, which highlights Oaklawn's Racing Festival of the South

on closing day of the meet, is one of the final prep races for the Kentucky

Derby. The Arkansas Derby is part of the Championship Series on the Road to the

Kentucky Derby with 170 qualifying points up for the taking, with 100-40-20-10

points awarded for finishing first through fourth.

Conquest Titan currently stands in 35th place for one of the 20 spots in the

Kentucky Derby starting gate with nine points, so he needs a breakthrough race

in the Arkansas Derby to be in Louisville on the first Saturday in May.

"You not only have to get the points, you need to run well enough to show

that you belong," Casse said. "He's got to step up his game. If he's good enough

he will, and if not, we'll have to go to a Plan B."

Conquest Titan, a $475,000 purchase at the 2013 OBS March two-year-olds in

training sale, has won two of his seven starts and finished second once for

$208,995 in earnings. He flashed his potential in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream on

January 25, running second to Cairo Prince while edging eventual Risen Star

winner Intense Holiday, but then disappointed with a fourth-place effort in the

Tampa Bay Derby March 8.

"He ran well in the Holy Bull," Casse said. "I'm not really sure why he

didn't run better in Tampa, but I don't think it's because of a lack of ability.

It was possibly due to a few different circumstances, but all that being said

there is no more time for excuses. He's got to step up."

The final prep races serve to separate the pretenders from the contenders and

reputations gained earlier in their young careers no longer count for the

three-year-olds.

"There are some who rise to the occasion and some who fall," Casse said. "It

really doesn't matter who was good in November, December or January. It matters

who's good in April and May. As I've gotten older, and over the years, I've

learned not to get all worked up over that kind of stuff. You just do the best

you can and what will be, will be. You don't know who's going to step forward

and who isn't, so you've just got to keep trying."

Conquest Titan, who will accompanied to Hot Springs by Casse's top assistant

and son Norman, is a son of Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone  out of a

Mineshaft mare so he has the pedigree to stay the trip in the 1 1/8-mile

Arkansas Derby and then in the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby.

"He's bred for it and he's shown he's got talent," Casse said. "We also know

he loves Churchill Downs, and that is a big, big plus. Now he needs to show us

he can compete with the higher level horses."

Hall of Fame rider Calvin Borel, winner of three Kentucky Derbys between 2007

and 2010, will be the colt's new partner in the Arkansas Derby.

"There wasn't really any big reason for the switch," Casse said. "Calvin is

already there and he seems to be what I thought was a good fit for this horse.

He wants to come from way out of it, and Calvin's pretty good at that. He knows

the track like the back of his hand."

This season was Casse's first time sending a division to Hot Springs and

going into Thursday's card, he has won six of 49 starts with five seconds and

seven thirds.

"I would have liked to have done better, although we did fine," Casse said.

"From the owners' standpoint, the purses are good. The most important thing for

us is where does this take us? The horses come out of Oaklawn happy and sound,

and that's really important because our bread and butter is the spring, summer

and fall. Sometimes you have to judge success on different levels.

"Of course, we would have liked to have won more races in Hot Springs, but

more importantly, it's how they come out of Hot Springs for the rest of the year

and that remains to be seen. But, at this point, we are very pleased and we hope

to be back next year."

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