Silver Dust breezes bullet ahead of Arkansas Derby

Silver Dust clocked a bullet five furlongs in company on Friday over Oaklawn Park’s fast main track in advance of the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April at the Hot Springs, Arkansas, venue.

Silver Dust went out with stablemate and fellow three-year-old Conquest Wildcat following the renovation break. The Randy Morse-trained duo worked the same time of :59.40 from the half-mile pole to the seven-eighths pole. Clockers caught them going :22.80 for the final quarter and they galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.80.

Silver Dust broke his maiden by 3 1/2 lengths last November at Churchill Downs and returned in February to make his stakes, and sophomore, debut in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn. The gray son of Tapit filled the fourth spot that day and ran fifth in the Rebel Stakes (G2) last out on March 18.

Conquest Wildcat has yet to try stakes company, though the bay son of Wildcat Heir most recently posted a two-length victory against allowance/optional claiming company on March 17.

The Arkansas Derby field currently stands at 10, according to the Oaklawn racing department – Classic Empire, Conquest Mo Money, Lookin at Lee, Malagacy, One Liner, Petrov, Rockin Rudy, Sonneteer, Silver Dust and Untrapped.

Post positions for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby – which is worth 100-40-20-10 points toward a starting berth in the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) – will be drawn Wednesday.