Dazzling Falls Wins the Arkansas Derby

Dazzling Falls, who had a fat bankroll but no earnings in graded stakes, won the $500,000 Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

Dazzling Falls needed a first- or second-place finish to qualify for the May 6 Kentucky Derby.

The son of Taylor’s Falls won the $300,000 Remington Park Derby two weeks ago, but that is not a graded race. If more than 20 horses want to run in the Kentucky Derby, graded earnings determine the starters.

Owned by Chateau Ridge Farm Inc., Dazzling Falls earned $300,000 for Saturday’s victory, his seventh in 13 starts.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Dazzling Falls ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 3/5 as the third choice in the field of eight 3-year-olds.

Flitch was second and On Target third.

The Arkansas Derby is one of the last major preps for the Kentucky Derby. The race produced the 1992 Kentucky Derby winner, Lil E. Tee, and the 1983 winner, Sunny’s Halo.