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2012 Blue Grass Stakes and Arkansas Derby: Entries, Post Positions and Morning Line Odds

By Frankel
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This weekend marks the conclusion of the major prep races for the 2012 Kentucky Derby with the G1-Blue Grass Stakes and the G1-Arkansas Derby. Both races will feature large fields headlined by a couple of Breeders' Cup winners. In the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, (post time: 5:45pm Central; TV: CNBC), Secret Circle, winner of last fall's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint, will attempt to complete the Rebel-Southwest-Arkansas Derby sweep. The only defeat of Secret Circle's career came by a half-length to Out of Bounds in the G3-Sham Stakes at Santa Anita back on January 7th. But despite his outstanding performances at Oaklawn this spring, Bob Baffert's Bodemesiter is the 9/5 morning line favorite.

At Keeneland, Breeders' Cup Juvenile and G3-Gotham winner Hansen leads a field of 13 in the Blue Grass Stakes (post time: 6:18 Eastern; TV: CNBC). Unlike many of the most recent editions of the Blue Grass, this year's favorite is a tried and true colt for the Polytrack surface. Hansen raced over Polytrack twice as a juvenile, both times at Turfway, and no horse got within sniffing distance of him in either of those races. The Blue Grass will be a much tougher race than his previous Polytrack efforts, and the connections have the luxury of using this race as a true "prep" given the fact that Hansen is a lock to make the Derby based on his graded stakes earnings. It remains to be seen whether Hansen is primed for a big effort, or just additional conditioning prior to the first Saturday in May.

Below are the entries, post positions and morning line odds for the Blue Grass Stakes and Arkansas Derby. We'll have a preview of these races later on in the week.

G1-Blue Grass Stakes, Keeneland
PP Horse Jockey Trainer ML
1 Heavy Breathing C. Lanerie T. Pletcher 12/1
2 Gung Ho E. Prado M. Maker 30/1
3 Prospective L. Contreras M. Casse 10/1
4 Hansen R. Dominguez M. Maker 6/5
5 Russian Greek M. Mena G. Dorochenko 50/1
6 Dullahan K. Desormeaux D. Romans 6/1
7 Politicallycorrect E. Trujillo W. Ward 30/1
8 Midnight Crooner G. Gomez B. Baffert 15/1
9 Holy Candy J. Rosario J. Sadler 30/1
10 Howe Great J. Castellano H. Motion 6/1
11 Ever So Lucky J. Leparoux J. Sheppard 12/1
12 Hero of Order E. Martin G. Dorochenko 12/1
13 Scatman S. Bridgmohan M. Lauer 12/1
G1-Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Park
PP Horse Jockey Trainer ML
1 Cozetti J. Lezcano D. Romans 15/1
2 Stat J. Velazquez T. Pletcher 10/1
3 Najjaar C. Borel D. Peitz 15/1
4 Jake Mo M. Berry A. Milligan 30/1
5 Secret Circle R. Bejarano B. Baffert 5/2
6 Isn't He Clever R. Albarado H. Dominguez 6/1
7 Optimizer J. Court D.W. Lukas 30/1
8 Atigun T. Thompson K. McPeek 30/1
9 Sabercat C. Nakatani S. Asmussen 15/1
10 Ranconteur C. DeCarlo T. Pletcher 15/1
11 Bodemeister M. Smith B. Baffert 9/5