Arkansas Derby 2012: Bodemeister Earns The Win With Ease

Bodemeister won the 2012 Arkansas Derby in dominating fashion, edging out Secret Circle by multiple lengths to take home a $1 million purse at Oakland Park in Hot Springs. The pair of Bob Baffert-trained horses were tabbed as favorites before the race. Bodemeister was given 9-5 odds despite racing without blinders for the first time in his career. Secret Circle earned 5-2 odds as the more proven horse, though with less raw potential.

Bodemeister had no trouble with the No. 11 post position. Jockey Mike Smith gradually brought him over to the rail right at the outset as the horse took immediate control from the gate. He held off Stat and Secret Circle by about a length coming around the final turn. Bodemeister opened up from there, pulling away from the field to solidify himself as one of the favorites to win this year’s Kentucky Derby.

First run in 1936, the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby is a key prep race for the Kentucky Derby, featuring many horses that have gone on to win big races in America over the course of their careers. In the past 10 years, the race has produced such notable horses as Curlin, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex and Lawyer Ron. The 2012 Grade 1 Arkansas Derby (post time: 5:45pm Central; TV: CNBC) features two outstanding colts trained by Bob Baffert -- Secret Circle and Bodemeister -- looking to etch their name into horse racing history. Secret Circle already has a spot in this year’s Kentucky Derby locked up, but Bodemeister is short on graded earnings (only $60,000 at this point) and desperately needs to finish no worse than second to have any hope of making the starting gate at Churchill Downs.

Let’s take a look at the field for the 2012 Arkansas Derby.

With post time at the 2012 Arkansas Derby set for 5:45 p.m. (EDT) Saturday, the experts at SB Nation’s horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come have made their predictions for the event.

Jared Christopher likes Secret Circle in the 2012 Arkansas Derby, but does have some concerns:

Saturday is the 2012 Arkansas Derby, and hopefuls looking to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby will be running in the 1 1/8-mile race. It’s an important tune-up race. There have been five participants in the Arkansas Derby who have gone on to win in Kentucky, most recently in 2004 when Smarty Jones won at Arkansas and went on to win the run for the roses. Last year’s Arkansas winner, Archarcharch, went on to finish 15th at Kentucky.

The favorites in the race at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas are Secret Circle and Bodemeister, who have 5-2 and 9-5 odds respectively. Both horses are trained by hall of famer Bob Baffert. In addition to help in qualifying for bigger races to come, a healthy incentive comes in the form of a $1 million prize for the winner of Saturday’s race.

The 2012 Arkansas Derby, one of the final tune-ups for the thoroughbreds that will run for the roses at the 2012 Kentucky Derby, takes place this Saturday, and post positions for the horses were announced Wednesday night.

Two horses trained by Bob Baffert, Secret Circle and Bodemeister, are among the Arkansas Derby’s favorites, but they will be starting from very different positions. Secret Circle drew the No. 5 slot in the 11-horse field, next to Isn’t He Clever, son of Smarty Jones, and Bodemeister will start from No. 11, the outermost position.