Arkansas Derby 2018: TV Schedule, Post Positions, Odds, Contenders and More

It is getting closer to the first Saturday in May, when horse racing takes center stage and all eyes focus on Churchill Downs in Louisville for the Kentucky Derby.

Thoroughbred owners and trainers are still in the process of figuring out if their best three-year-olds are going to run in the big race, and one of the key races that insiders use to determine their horse's status is the Arkansas Derby.

That 1 1/8-mile race will be held on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, and nine horses are scheduled to compete. It is scheduled for 7:18 p.m. and fans can watch on TVG.

According to Horseracingnation.com, Magnum Moon is the 8-5 favorite, while Solomini is the 2-1 second choice.

Magnum Moon is trained by Todd Pletcher, and he appears to be a strong colt who is capable of an explosive effort. The horse has won all three races he has started this year, including his most recent triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel Stakes.

Magnum Moon defeated Solomini and Combatant in that race, and both of those horses are competing in the Arkansas Derby.

Pletcher's horse has increased his distance in all three races this season. His first victory came at six furlongs (3/4 mile), and he followed that with a triumph over 1 mile and 40 yards before he earned a win in the Rebel Stakes.

Luis Saez will pilot Magnum Moon in the Arkansas Derby, which is the last prep race before the Kentucky Derby.

Arkansas Derby

Post time: 7:18 p.m. EDT at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Purse: $1 million

Grade: 1

Distance: 1 1/8 miles

Weight: 122 pounds

TV: TVG

Post, horse, trainer, jockey, odds

1. Beautiful Shot, Keith Desormeaux, Richard Eramia, 30-1

2. Machismo, Anthony Quartarolo, Scott Spieth, 20-1

3. Tenfold, Steve Asmussen, Victor Espinoza, 10-1

4. Dream Baby Dream, Steve Asmussen, Luis Contreras, 15-1

5. Solomini, Bob Baffert, Flavien Prat, 2-1

6. Magnum Moon, Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez, 8-5

7. Plainsman, Will VanMeter, C.J. McMahon, 30-1

8. Quip, Rodolphe Brisset, Florent Geroux, 9-2

9. Combatant, Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana Jr., 6-1

Solomini raced four times as a two-year-old, and he finished in the money in all of those races. After winning his debut, he followed with two seconds and a third. His second-place finish in the Rebel Stakes has been his only outing this year.

Combatant won one race as a two-year-old, and he has two second-place finishes and a third-place as a three-year-old. If he can beat Solomini or Magnum Moon, he will give trainer Steve Asmussen a dose of confidence prior to the Kentucky Derby.

Magnum Moon, Solomini and Combatant should have the best chance, but Quip should not be discounted. He won two of his three races as a two-year-old, and he also won the Tampa Bay Derby in March. Three of his four races have been at 1 1/16 miles.