Saturday’s $1.25 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park will be Race 12 on a program featuring 4 stakes races.

Let’s Meet the Contenders for the 2023 Arkansas Derby:

#1 Bourbon Bash (Reylu Gutierrez // D. Wayne Lukas) 15-1
Looks to snap a 7-race losing streak (6 of them in stakes) at longshot odds. Outran his 77-1 price in the Rebel Stakes when overcoming a tough trip to finish fifth. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas seeks his third Arkansas Derby win, but first since scoring in 1984-’85.

#2 Interlock Empire (David Cabrera // Kenny McPeek) 20-1
Son of 2017 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire scored a deep-closing maiden win locally March 11 in his fourth lifetime start. Further in his pedigree for this race, his damsire in 2007 Arkansas Derby dominator Curlin. He’ll want a fast pace and is improving in each start.

#3 Harlocap (Ricardo Santana, Jr. // Steve Asmussen) 15-1
Battled up front in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds before giving way to sixth behind Arkansas Derby re-matcher Angel of Empire. That was the son of Triple Crown winner Justify’s first start since exiting the Bob Baffert barn. Trainer Steve Asmussen’s 4 Arkansas Derby winners include Super Stock most recently in 2021, also ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr. The duo also teamed here to win with eventual Belmont Stakes victor Creator in 2016. Harlop’s damsire is 2012 Arkansas Derby winner Bodemeister.

#4 Two Eagles River (Nik Juarez // Chris Hartman) 10-1
Wire-to-wire winner last out in a mile allowance over Disarm, who came back to finish second last Saturday in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. Owns two wins and two narrow runner-ups in 5 starts, making him less than a half-length from being 4-for-5 lifetime. Son of Preakness winner Cloud Computing is expected to be part of the early pace mix.

#5 Airtime (Cristian Torres // Robertino Diodoro) 15-1
Former claimer has won 2 straight and 3 of his last 4 starts, readying for the class test in stakes company for the first time. Claimed for $50,000 in late January while winning by more than 10 lengths that day on a muddy track. Won on fast going last out when pairing for the first time with the meet’s leading rider, Cristian Torres.

#6 Angel of Empire (Flavien Prat // Brad Cox) 9-2
Late-running upset winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds saw that race get mixed reviews last week; third-place finisher Two Phil’s returned to win the Jeff Ruby at Turfway, but the Louisiana Derby returnees floundered. Angel of Empire was runner-up to stablemate Victory Formation in the Smarty Jones over this track and should be comfortable in his return. He’s a son of 2017 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire. Trainer Brad Cox won his first Arkansas Derby last year with Cyberknife.

#7 Rocket Can (Junior Alvarado // Bill Mott) 4-1
One of Florida’s top sophomores this winter, he won Gulfstream’s Holy Bull and was runner-up to Champion 2-Year-Old Forte in the Fountain of Youth. Little Rock resident Frank Fletcher owns and looks to win the big one in his backyard, and doesn’t find Forte in this field. He’s posted back-to-back bullet workouts since the Fountain of Youth from his Payson Park base, a training track notoriously deep and taxing that bolsters fitness.

#8 Reincarnate (John Velazquez // Tim Yakteen) 5-2 *pictured above*
Santa Anita-based grandson of 2007 Arkansas Derby winner Curlin makes his second Oaklawn venture of the season. Front-runner was compromised at the start of the Grade 2 Rebel, dropped 11 lengths off the pace, and still rallied for a promising third-place finish. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who also rode in the Rebel, returns to Hot Springs in search of his first Arkansas Derby victory. The Grade 3 Sham winner should vie for favoritism in the betting.

#9 King Russell (Rafael Bejarano // Ron Moquett) 30-1
Last-out maiden breaker graduated in his fifth lifetime start and should appreciate the 1-1/8 miles trip. The son of Creative Cause is out of a full-sister to Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can, so his pedigree matches his running style for distance optimism. Jockey Raphael Bejarano is a 2-time Arkansas Derby winner in 2009 and 2013.

#10 Red Route One (Tyler Gaffalione // Steve Asmussen) 3-1
Rallying runner-up in the Grade 3 Southwest and Grade 2 Rebel is the most accomplished local performer in this year’s Arkansas Derby. The deep closer adds blinkers, bringing about some curiosity how that will impact his early engagement in the race. The Gun Runner colt has a run-all-day feel and has had the misfortune of catching sloppy tracks in 3 of his last 4 starts. Trainer Steve Asmussen’s 4 Arkansas Derby winners include Super Stock most recently in 2021.

#11 Kolomio (James Graham // Keith Desormeaux) 30-1
Trainer Keith Desormeaux goes to his bench with this recent $50,000 claim from Santa Anita, opting to bypass the Arkansas Derby with his Rebel Stakes winner Confidence Game. Kolomio is from a turfy damside pedigree and has run on grass in his last 4 starts. His 2 dirt tries last July weren’t encouraging, but that Desormeaux re-claimed his former charge and puts him back on dirt is at least interesting for a barn apt to pop huge longshots on occasion in big races.