HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) - Tapiture was made the 9-5 early favorite for this weekend’s $1 million Arkansas Derby, which attracted a field of nine horses.
He drew post position three on Wednesday for the 1 1/8-mile race and will be ridden by Joel Rosario, who replaces Ricardo Santana Jr.
Trainer Steve Asmussen says he decided to go with Rosario because the jockey won last year’s Kentucky Derby aboard Orb.
Asmussen and his former top assistant are under investigation by regulators in New York and Kentucky after an animal rights group alleged they mistreated horses under their care. As a result, the National Racing Hall of Fame decided to table Asmussen’s name for consideration in this year’s voting.
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