Classic Empire back on top in Arkansas Derby

After months of Kentucky Derby prep races, it is three weeks before America's greatest race and we're almost back to where we started with Classic Empire towards the head of the market.

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner jumped back to a position challenging Florida Derby victor Always Dreaming for favouritism at around the 7-1 mark with victory in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.

The $1 million event represented something of a last-chance saloon for Classic Empire (Mark Casse/Julien Leparoux) after his dismal showing on his three-year-old return at Gulfstream Park, which was followed by various setbacks, among them a foot abscess and a back issue. He even refused to work on one occasion.

Nevertheless, the son of Pioneerof The Nile was sent off 19-10 favourite and duly delivered the goods, sitting in the second rank of a big field before being produced wide into the stretch and wearing down outsider Conquest Mo Money to score by half a length. Market rival Malagacy showed up prominently from an unfavourable wide draw before fading to fifth.

Classic Empire has some big shoes to fill: the last two-year-old champion to win in Arkansas was subsequent Triple Crown hero American Pharoah.

Trainer Mark Casse was a relieved man after the race. "He's been a challenge – a lot of chapters in the book I'm writing," he laughed. "I was pretty nervous but he just has so much ability and the last month and a half have been good."

The horse will fly to Louisville on Monday to be prepared for the Kentucky Derby on May 6. "I think the toughest deal is over, getting to this point," said Casse. "Now he won’t have to do too much going into the Derby."

Winning rider Julien Leparoux added: "He wasn’t 100 per cent today, so I was expecting him to be a little tired. I think he’s a special horse. Hopefully now there’s no more hiccups and we go to the Derby and I think we can win it."

Also on Saturday

Oaklawn Park: Oaklawn H'cap (Grade 2) 1m1f | dirt | 4yo+

A shock result to this $750,000 event as former claimer Inside Straight (Robertino Diodoro/Geovanni Franco) scored by a couple of lengths at 20-1. Formerly trained by Todd Pletcher, the four-year-old gelding was bought to win last year's Manitoba Derby – not one of the jewels in American racing's crown – and had been down the field on his only previous sorties in minor Graded company.