HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – It’s been a long journey to dirt racing for Midnight Rising, but ever since his hooves hit a traditional main track he’s been unbeatable. His newfound success over the surface could make him the favorite Saturday, when he meets the comebacking Last Samurai and millionaires Silver Prospector and Necker Island in the Grade 3, $500,000 Oaklawn Mile. The race goes as the ninth and serves as the first of four stakes that will run consecutively, culminating with the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby. The Oaklawn Mile is for 4-year-olds and up and it will end at the sixteenth pole. Midnight Rising tried dirt for the first time in his 4-year-old debut Jan. 6, and won an entry-level allowance at a mile at Oaklawn. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 92 and trumped himself one start later, when he captured a second-level allowance with a 93, which is the best last-race number in the Oaklawn Mile. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. “It sounds silly, but it’s true we could not get him on dirt last year,” said Jordan Blair, who trains Midnight Rising for Surfside Stables. “We were maybe [impatiently] waiting for the right dirt spot and it just didn’t pan out for us last year. The other races just seemed better at the time.” Midnight Rising had won his debut on a synthetic track, going a mile at Turfway Park. There were more opportunities for the son of Mendelssohn on that surface, and also straight 3-year-old spots for him on turf. He was then sent to Oaklawn for dirt opportunities. Midnight Rising’s first start on the surface has come back as one of the meet’s strongest races, as five runners from it returned to win in their next starts. “He seems to be able to run on anything,” Blair said. “Obviously on dirt, his numbers have shot up and he’s been extremely competitive.” Midnight Rising has shown speed in his dirt races, and he could be prominent again Saturday, when he breaks from post 4 under regular rider Emmanuel Esquivel. Blair said ideally he’d be pleased to sit off Nautical Star, who will be stretching out to two turns when he breaks from the rail. “We would love to have a target, but it’s a pretty soft pace on paper,” Blair said. “So, whatever happens, I think we’ll be pretty close. He is a good gate horse. He has been in his last three starts. He’s come out of the gate the last three times like a rocket and has been able to be tactical and sit wherever the jock wants to put him.” Silver Prospector will break from post 8 under Keith Asmussen. The 7-year-old is coming off a 1 1/2-length win in a local allowance at a mile for which he earned a Beyer of 91. It was Silver Prospector’s first win in his last six starts. “Silver [Prospector] is a tricky old booger that’s capable of doing really well,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “The trip that Keith gave him last time put him back in the winner’s circle, at his slightly advanced age, and they both have earned this opportunity in the Oaklawn Mile off of that.” Silver Prospector was a Grade 2 winner earlier in his career, and overall he’s banked $1.4 million. The son of Declaration of War long has represented himself well at a high level for Ed and Susie Orr. “You can see in his form what he’s capable of,” Asmussen said. “When you look through there, you see he was the first horse that ever beat Tiz the Law.” Silver Prospector won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes over the Grade 1 winner who would go on to win the Belmont Stakes and Travers. Denington is a new face to the division, getting back to a mile Saturday. “That’s been his best distance,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount from post 2. Last Samurai shows a strong series of works for his first start since running sixth in the Grade 1 Whitney last August at Saratoga. He is an earner of $2.2 million and a past winner of the Oaklawn Handicap. Richard Eramia has the mount for Willis Horton Racing and trainer Eddie Milligan Jr. Zeitlos streaks into Matron Zeitlos will be looking for her fourth straight victory when she meets Grade 1 winner Daddysruby and comebacking Grade 2 winner Hoosier Philly in the $250,000 Matron. The six-furlong race is for fillies and mares. Zeitlos defeated some of her nine rivals last out in the $150,000 Carousel on Feb. 24 at Oaklawn. She was making her stakes debut after taking back-to-back allowance races. “She’s put together a very nice form,” Asmussen said. “We’ll try to keep the win streak going.” Tyler Gaffalione has the mount again after winning with the daughter of Curlin in the Carousel. Backyard Money, who was second in the Carousel, returns in the Matron. Daddysruby won the Grade 1 La Brea two starts ago at Santa Anita, with Royal Spa placing fourth. Hoosier Philly is making her first start since running an uncharacteristic ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.