Two-year-old champion Classic Empire recovered from a poor performance his last time out and locked up a Kentucky Derby bid Saturday with a come-from-well-behind win in the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Conquest Mo Money, which broke fast but couldn’t hold off Classic Empire in the final 16th-mile, could be Kentucky-bound if his owners put up a $200,000 supplemental fee. Earlier Saturday, Senior Investment chased down West Coast in the final furlong to win the $200,000 Grade 3 Lexington by a head Saturday at Keeneland, but the 10 points he earned leaves him outside looking in for the May 6 Kentucky Derby.

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Dance Smartly, the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Breeders’ Cup in 1991, has died after sustaining an injury in her paddock. She was 19. The filly, who won the Eclipse Award as North America’s top 3-year-old in 1991, was euthanized over the weekend because of an irreparable injury related to an arthritic joint in her knee.

American Patriot won’t be denied in Maker’s 46 Mile

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Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza is wearing a neck brace while recovering at his San Diego home after fracturing a vertebra during a training accident at Del Mar last month.

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Daytona romped to a 4-length victory over nine rivals in the $150,000 Oak Tree Derby at Santa Anita on Saturday. Ridden by Mike Smith, the Irish-bred gelding covered 1 1-8 miles over a damp turf course in 1:46.40 and paid $22.60, $11.40 and $6.80. Ten a Penny returned $8.60 and $5.60. Betting favorite Stoneside paid $3 to show.

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