Oaklawn Park

Both kept perfect records intact May 2 at Oaklawn Park. One of the main reasons trainer Bob Baffert was delighted that Oaklawn Park officials split the $500,000 Arkansas Derby (G1) into two divisions was that it removed the possibility of his two undefeated 3-year-olds, Nadal and Charlatan, slugging it out in the same race. After what happened May 2 in the two divisions of the 1 1/8-mile stakes, a showdown between the two seems inevitable—and it should be a classic matchup…

Each division will award 170 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Oaklawn Park will run two divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1) May 2, with each division awarding 170 points toward starting eligibility in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs. Oaklawn officials said last week they were looking for at least 22 horses to split the 1 1/8-mile feature for 3-year-olds into two divisions. Each division will carry a $500,000 purse and award Road…

Entries for the May 2 Arkansas Derby will be taken Sunday at Oaklawn Park, and there will be plenty of scoreboard watching, because the number of horses who enter the race will impact whether it is split into two divisions. If it’s not, Charlatan, one of the most highly ranked 3-year-olds in the country, is in danger of not getting in based on the race conditions…