Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Liberal Arts , who most recently finished third in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, will be aimed at the Arkansas Derby (G1) for his next start, trainer Robert Medina told Oaklawn publicity.
Medina has a division this winter at Oaklawn for the first time but he is based at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky.
Liberal Arts shipped back to Kentucky after the Southwest and returned to training Feb. 8, Medina said. Timing played a role in his decision to skip the $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 24 with Evan and Stephen Ferraro’s 3-year-old Arrogate colt.
The Southwest date had to be moved back because of inclement weather. The $1.5 million Arkansas Derby is scheduled for March 30.
“All looks really good on him,” Medina said. “I mean, I wish that we would have gotten to run on Jan. 27 because I would have run in the Rebel. God willing, he’s going to run here in the Arkansas Derby.”
Sign up for BloodHorse Daily
The Southwest was Liberal Arts’ first start since winning the Street Sense Stakes (G3) Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs. Mystik Dan won the Southwest by eight lengths.
Liberal Arts, Medina’s first career graded stakes winner, has 19 points to rank eighth on the latest Kentucky Derby points leaderboard.
Video: Southwest S. (G3)
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
Leave feedback about this