HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Timberlake, Muth, and Mystik Dan will take the most money in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, but anything can happen when 10 young horses come together to race farther than ever before against the backdrop of an ontrack crowd that could exceed 60,000. It’s those variables – plus the task of judging young talent – that make the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby points race (100-50-25-15-10) a more complex handicapping exercise than first glance. “This is going to be an exciting race,” said Kenny McPeek, who trains Mystik Dan. “Saturday is one of the ultimate tests going into this Triple Crown.” Oaklawn will showcase the Arkansas Derby on a 13-race card that has a special first post of noon Central. Timberlake won the Rebel here in his 3-year-old debut Feb. 24. The start gives him recency over Muth, who will be making his first start since a January win in the San Vicente at Santa Anita, and Mystik Dan, who on Feb. 3 captured the Southwest here. Timberlake has prepped for the Arkansas Derby at Fair Grounds. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2024: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more “He really has taken a step forward physically since the Rebel,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I feel like he’s just gotten bigger, stronger, and his coat’s even better. So, we’re excited about how he’s doing right now.” Timberlake won the Rebel by two lengths while making his first start in more than three months. “I don’t feel like he like he was 100 percent cranked based off the works we had with him,” Cox said. “I felt like he was probably 85, 90 percent ready to run. I thought he handled himself very, very well. He settled going into the first turn. He finished up well. He’s going to move forward off that race.” Flavien Prat has the mount from post 2. Muth is a son of Good Magic who brought $2 million at auction as a 2-year-old last March. “He worked pretty exceptional,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “That’s why he cost so much. He was an early maturing type of horse. He’s always looked good.” Muth has won at distances from five furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, his latest score came at seven-eighths. “That was a good race for him, one turn,” Baffert said. “I think we’ll all find out how far they want to go, so this will be a good test for him. He’s bred for it, so I’m thinking this is a good spot for him.” Juan Hernandez will ride from post 7. Mystik Dan owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 101. He rolled by eight lengths in the slop in the Southwest, a few starts after he put up a Beyer of 96 on a fast track in November. “The surface is not going to be a problem,” McPeek said. Mystik Dan has thrived since the Southwest, according to McPeek. “Our goal was to get a little bigger and stronger, which I think he’s done,” McPeek said. “We didn’t want to wheel back in three weeks for the Rebel, so now we feel like we’re coming into it with a fresh horse and a big chance.” Liberal Arts closed from ninth for third in the Southwest in his first start since capturing the Street Sense in October at Churchill Downs. “He finished up very well and he acts like a horse that wants more distance,” trainer Robbie Medina said. Tyler Gaffalione will be aboard from post 5. “Ideally, I think his style is kind of going to be a horse that’s going to be midpack,” Medina said, “and if he’s five, six lengths off the lead, that’s fine by me.” Dimatic, an impressive maiden winner and one of three starters from Oaklawn leading trainer Steve Asmussen, enters off a fifth-place finish in the Rebel. “He needs to run better, but I think he’s capable of better,” Asmussen said. “I’m honestly hoping he looks like Disarm. There’s a lot of similarities as far as how he looks – Winchell homebred, big chestnut, a Gun Runner. I’m waiting for the breakout performance.” Informed Patriot is coming off a fifth in the Sunland Derby. “He didn’t show up that day,” Asmussen said. “I know he’s capable of better.” Imperial Gun makes his stakes debut from post 10. “It might be perfect for him because he has jeopardized himself by not leaving the gate as good as he should a couple of times,” Asmussen said. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  “There’s a lot of Baby Huey to him. He’s a big, growthy horse that the best is ahead of him. I know it’s a tall order, but there’s no better time than the present to move up. Just Steel should like the added ground Saturday. “I don’t think that’s a problem at all,” trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “I think the trip is the main thing. I don’t think the mile and an eighth will bother him.” Time for Truth starts from post 4. “We’ll be up there towards the front end,” trainer Ron Moquett said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.