Arkansas Derby : Dansil Hugs Rail to Beat Clever Trevor

In races all week long, jockeys at Oaklawn Park avoided the rail. Until Saturday.

Frank Brothers, trainer of Dansil, worked a couple of horses in the morning and passed the word to his rider, Larry Snyder, to hug the rail.

“I felt like the rail was pretty good, I don’t know what the so-called experts think,” Brothers said after Snyder followed the strategy and won the $400,000 Arkansas Derby by three-quarters of a length over Clever Trevor.

“I didn’t think it was a disadvantage. When I walked across to saddle him, I kind of looked down and walked a few steps either way. I told him, ‘Whatever you do, don’t get off the rail; don’t let the field swarm him where he loses his position.”

Brothers said he expected Dansil to be about fourth in the field of 11 3-year-olds, but the complexion of the race changed when favored Manastash Ridge stumbled badly coming out of the gate--and went on to finish ninth.

Clever Trevor, winner of the Remington Park Derby, went to the front, and Dansil--breaking from the No. 1 post position--went with him.

Clever Trevor, ridden by Don Pettinger, was a length in front of Dansil after a half-mile in a quick :45 3/5. Snyder, who has been among Oaklawn’s leading riders for almost three decades, inched his horse along the rail and took a short lead as the field headed into the turn.

Dansil led by more than a length in the stretch and then held off Clever Trevor.

For Snyder, 46, it was his first Arkansas Derby victory. “I can’t explain what it means,” he said.

Dansil returned $20, $8.60 and $5.20 after running the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 1/5. Clever Trevor paid $5.60 and $4.00, and Advocate Training’s show price was $4.40.