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Get Her Number The Wild Card For Arkansas Derby

Author: Ryan Knuppel
Published: Thursday April 08, 2021
One of the most important stops on the road to the Kentucky Derby takes place this weekend, as the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby is contested at Oaklawn Park. The field of entries for the race has been finalized, but there is an interesting wild card selection that could be worth a second look before the big race.

The Arkansas Derby is the last huge race before the first of the Triple Crown events next month, and the Grade 1 is one of the featured races on the 13-race card this weekend.

Get Her Number The Wild Card

There were six horses to declare for the Arkansas Derby on Tuesday, which is headed by the undefeated Concert Tour. However, it was also revealed that Get Her Number would be one of the runners lining up. The 3-year-old's form has been strong throughout the season and could be one that is set to run a big race this year.

The Peter Miller-trained horse has only been on the course once so far this year. It was a slightly disappointing effort on that occasion, especially when you compare it against his first three starts. 

His reappearance came at Oaklawn Park in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes after 168 days away from the track. On that run, he finished seventh and was 8 1/2 lengths behind Concert Tour.

Fans should slightly look past that run, as Get Her Number wasn't really himself on that run. Instead, more focus should be put on his three excellent showings last year. 

The 3-year-old was a half-length winner on his maiden at Del Mar before finishing a length behind Big Fish in the Listed Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes in September last year.

Grade 1 Winner Last Year

The main indicator that he could be set for a big run in the Arkansas Derby can be found by how well he traveled in the American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita in September last year. He traveled well throughout the contest and held on to claim a first Grade 1 success in a talented field.

Among the horses to finish behind Get Her Number was Rombauer and Spielberg. It was the turn of foot that really gave the 3-year-old his win on that run, and if he is back in that kind of condition this weekend, he is more than capable of causing a shock result.

Concert Tour Leads Field

It will be a tough task for Get Her Number this weekend, though, as he will be coming up against some strong opposition. Super Stock, Caddo River, and Hozier have all impressed in the past, but all the attention this weekend will be on the unbeaten Concert Tour. 

Victory for the Bob Baffert-trained horse this weekend would see him emerge as the clear favorite in the betting for the first of the Triple Crown events next month.

It's hard to pick faults in the form of Concert Tour, as he has been dominant on all three appearances on the track. It could be argued that his most impressive performance came last time out at Oaklawn Park in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, as he won by 4 1/4 lengths from Hozier. 

Caddo River and Super Stock were also involved in that contest, and a repeat performance could be in store this weekend. However, Get Her Number could be the horse best placed to add a layer of unpredictability into the Arkansas Derby.