The $1.5 million Arkansas Derby is America’s richest 3-year-old prep on the Triple Crown trail and has springboarded some of the biggest names in the sport. American Pharoah stormed through Oaklawn en route to the 2015 Triple Crown, as did legends like Curlin and Smarty Jones. Two years ago, Mystik Dan delivered the roses in Louisville taking this path.

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Let’s meet the contenders for the Arkansas Derby (Race 13):

#1-REDLAND REBELS: Cross-entered in the Florida Derby at home at Gulfstream, but will scratch from that spot to make the road trip to Oaklawn. Gelded son of Uncle Chuck exits a fourth-place run in the Tampa Bay Derby and will have just 21 days between starts. That’s the same spacing between his debut and the lone victory on his resume, a Gulfstream turf mile last August. Patrick Biancone trains and Keith Asmussen – set to become his son-in-law in August – will ride.

#2-SILENT TACTIC: Only horse to compete in all 4 legs of the Arkansas Derby series this year, he won the Southwest while finishing second in the Smarty Jones and Rebel. Trainer Mark Casse won last year’s edition of this race with Sandman. The colt by Tacitus has been first or second in all 5 starts while employing a come-from-behind style. Regular rider Cristian Torres will be in the saddle for this Tacitus colt who has not been favored in a race to date.

#3-BLACKOUT TIME: Second sophomore start is on deck for this Kenny McPeek trainee as he and Brian Hernandez Jr. seek their follow-up to Mystik Dan’s 2024 Kentucky Derby success. Not The Time colt has won 1 of 4 starts, which include a second-place Breeders’ Futurity effort at Keeneland and a last-out fourth in the Rebel. He fired a bullet workout 13 days post-Rebel over the Oaklawn surface and has remained local after wintering at Fair Grounds.

#4-BRICKLIN: Cross-entered in Thursday’s local Hot Springs Stakes but will scratch from that race in favor of the Arkansas Derby. This Jan. 3 Oaklawn allowance winner returns to the scene following a third-place road effort in the Sunland Derby. That performance looks better after seeing Sunland Derby winner Pavlovian outrun expectations with a nose runner-up in the Louisiana Derby last Saturday. Jaime Torres rides this son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist for trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

#5-TAPTASTIC: The most lightly raced member of the Arkansas Derby cast debuted a winner March 8 at Oaklawn and wheels back 3 weeks later on the class hike. Trainer Steve Asmussen owns 4 Arkansas Derby crowns and has won Triple Crown events out of this path with the likes of Creator and Curlin. A fifth win would match the race’s all-time record. Half-brother to 2024 Preakness fourth-place finisher Tuscan Gold, who ran third in Louisiana Derby that spring while making just his third lifetime start. Home-bred Tapit colt for Stonestreet Stables and Winchell Thoroughbreds will be ridden by Erik Asmussen.

#6-RENEGADE: Five-time Arkansas Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher brings the morning line favorite from his Florida winter base. Renegade stormed home to win the Sam F. Davis at Tampa on February 7, a race flattered by third-place finisher The Puma upon a winning return in the Tampa Bay Derby. Renegade was runner-up last fall in the Remsen over the Arkansas Derby distance of 1-1/8 miles, a race won by eventual Risen Star victor Paladin, one of this year’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager favorites. Irad Ortiz Jr. opts to ride Renegade over Florida Derby contender Commandment, winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes, which appears a significant vote of confidence for this Into Mischief colt.

#7-NAPLOLEON SOLO: Last-minute Arkansas Derby entrant reportedly will scratch in favor of running in next week’s Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

#8-EXOSOME: Feb. 28 Oaklawn allowance winner with the addition of blinkers, the Lecomte Stakes sixth-place finisher gets another chance on the trail. Trainer Kelsey Danner returned this colt to his Kentucky homebase between starts and changes riders to Adam Beschizza, who piloted Exosome to his maiden win Oct. 19 at Keeneland. Francisco Arrieta rode last out but jumps to pilot Litmus Test on Saturday. Son of Candy Ride, who sired last week’s Louisiana Derby winner Emerging Market.

#9-LITMUS TEST: Set the pace and tired to third as the favorite in the Rebel Stakes for 5-time Arkansas Derby winner Bob Baffert. Blinkers come off for the first time on Saturday for the Los Al Futurity winner. Remained at Oaklawn between the Rebel and Arkansas Derby, working twice over the track. Local rider Francisco Arrieta takes the call as Flavien Prat – who will ride for Baffert Thursday and Friday in OP stakes – departs for a Florida Derby date at Gulfstream with Commandment for Brad Cox.