RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—MAY 3, 2017—Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire is the 4-1 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Wagering on the complete programs on Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs will be available at Ruidoso Downs.

The All American Turf Club will be open at noon on Saturday with a special buffet offered. There is also wagering in Billy The Kid Casino starting at 8 a.m. Breakfast will be offered in Billy’s Sports Bar and Grill from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday.

The Kentucky Oaks complete program from Churchill Downs will be offered at Billy’s Sport’s Bar and Grill on Friday. Wagering on all of Saturday’s Churchill Downs’ program, including the Kentucky Derby, will be available on Friday and Saturday. There will be an Oaks-Derby double wager offered.

John Oxley’s champion two-year-old colt Classic Empire has been a bit of a mystery this year, however appears to have found his form for trainer Mark Casse. After a lackluster third-place run in the Holy Bull Stakes and showing a lack of interest in several workouts, the colt impressed with a strategic late surge to win the Arkansas Derby.

Classic Empire starts from the 14th post position with Julian Leparoux aboard.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Always Dreaming rides a three-race winning streak capped by a tactical five-length win in the Florida Derby. Pletcher’s father, J.J., won the 1975 Kansas Futurity at Ruidoso Downs with Chicks Deck. Todd was helping his father at the time and that was the start of his seven-time Eclipse Award-winning career.

Always Dreaming drew the fifth post position with John Velazquez riding.

Another New Mexico connection in the Kentucky Derby is Calumet Farm’s homebred Hence. He came from off the pace to win the Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park on March 26 by three-and-three-quarter lengths.

Hence races from the eighth post position and Florent Geroux is the jockey.

Reddam Racing LLC’s Irap was fourth in the Sunland Derby and then stepped up with a three-quarter-length score in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

Irap starts from the ninth post position with Mario Gutierrez up.

The 5-2 morning line favorite in the Kentucky Oaks for fillies is Paradise Woods. The Richard Mandella-trained filly stunned fans in the Santa Anita Oaks with a front-running triumph by nearly 12 lengths. She simply went to the lead and pulled away from her outclassed rivals.

Paradise Woods also has a New Mexico connection. Her mother, Wild Forest, was born at R.D. Hubbard’s Crystal Springs Farm when it was located in Paris, Kentucky. The farm is now at Tularosa, New Mexico producing thoroughbreds and quarter horses.

Flavien Prat rides Paradise Woods from the fourth post position.

Promotions will be connected to the Kentucky Derby. Billy’s Derby Dash For Cash drawing will be held after the Kentucky Derby, which has a 4:20 p.m. (MDT) post time. The drawing should be held about 5 p.m.

A Derby Hat Contest will be held in Billy’s Sports Bar & Grill with the winner taking $250. The second-place finisher receives $150 and the third-place finisher gets $100.

Next Monday through Wednesday non-wagering training races will be contested at Ruidoso Downs. They will be highlighted by prospects for the $1-million (est.) Ruidoso Futurity, the $1-million (est.) Rainbow Futurity and the $3-million (est.) All American Futurity. Ruidoso Futurity trials are held the first two days of the season that starts on May 26.

For complete Ruidoso Downs’ information, go to www.raceruidoso.com, visit the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino Facebook page and follow the Ruidoso Press Box (@RuiPressBox) on Twitter.