Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Tapiture, who may go off as favorite in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) April 12, had his final tuneup for the nine furlong race, breezing a half mile in :50 4/5 at Oaklawn Park in the slop.
The son of Tapit, trained by Steve Asmussen, is coming off a second-place finish in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II), in which he got bounced around from both sides in the stretch.
At Churchill Downs, Conquest Titan, second in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), breezed a half in a bullet :47 2/5 for the Arkansas Derby, fastest of 28 works at the distance.
Trained by Mark Casse, Conquest Titan is in need of points to get in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II).
At Keeneland, stakes-placed Casiguapo, blew out a sharp three furlongs in :34 4/5 in preparation for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), also on April 12.
Asserting Bear, fourth in the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral (gr. III), breezed a half-mile in :48 toward his expected start in the 1 1/8-mile race on Polytrack.
