Far Right On Track for Arkansas

Harry Rosemblum and Rob LaPenta's Far Right (Notional) currently has 22 points towards the GI Kentucky Derby and with a good effort in Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, could solidify his spot in the starting gate the first Saturday in May. 

Far Right, who wrapped up his juvenile season with thirds in the Street Sense S. at Churchill Down and GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S., is perfect so far this year with victories in Oaklawn's Smarty Jones S. Jan. 18 and the GIII Southwest S. Feb. 22. 

Far Right will line up against his most accomplished challenger Saturday when he faces off against juvenile champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), however trainer Ron Moquett is upbeat about his chances. 

“I have the utmost confidence in my horse, and I don't think we've seen the best of my horse,” the conditioner stated. “We've got some room to improve if we're going to catch [American Pharoah], but I think there's improvement there. We're excited about the opportunity to run against a very good, classy horse.” 

As for race tactics, Moquett said Far Right is going to run his typical race, coming from behind. 

“Our job is to break, and go past [American Pharoah] when he's tired if we can,” he explained. “That doesn't mean we're going to be eight lengths [behind], that doesn't mean we're going to be 12 lengths [behind], that means we're going to let Mr. [Mike] Smith decide where he wants to go and whatever the pace up front dictates us to have enough time to catch them down the stretch.” 

Moquett believes his trainee could do well in Kentucky if they make it to the starting gate and that Far Right's running style could be a major asset in a crowded field. 

“I actually think his ability to maneuver in and around traffic and start and stop again is going to be in our favor in the big race, if we're lucky enough to get there,” Moquett said. “In a seven or eight horse race, it shouldn't be that big of a deal, but I think that's going to become a really neat thing to have is maneuverability and the fact that he doesn't need to have everything go in his direction for him to run his race. I think the thing with him early on that was causing him trouble is he has a very big cruising speed. Whenever he puts on the gas he accelerates and if there's somebody four strides in front of him, the riders underestimate how quickly he'll get there. Other than the fact that everybody, especially Mike [Smith, rider in the Smarty Jones and Southwest] and Corey [Lanerie, rider in the Delta Downs Jackpot], are very confident in him and they're not in the big hurry, they know that when they ask, they can do it, so hopefully, when they can seize the best path without the obstacles.”