Cornucopian wasn’t the only horse stretching out from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles in his second lifetime start on March 29 at Oaklawn.

Roughly three hours before Cornucopian failed as the favorite in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1), Zero Sugar passed his test in a $110,000 maiden special weight for trainer Cipriano Contreras and co-owner Staton Flurry of Hot Springs.

Zero Sugar finished second to Cornucopian Feb. 23, beaten 5 ¾ lengths in the fastest maiden race for 3-year-olds (1:09.02) in Oaklawn history. Cornucopian, after getting hooked by Speed King, blazed through some of the fastest fractions in Arkansas Derby history before tiring late and finishing fourth, 8 ½ lengths behind Sandman.

Contreras opted for a more conservative two-turn race and was rewarded when Zero Sugar ($6.80) edged Sixtyseven Mustang by a neck under Emmanuel Esquivel.

“There wasn’t really another option,” Flurry said. “We could have gone back in a six-furlong race, but we knew he probably wanted a little longer. There wasn’t a mile (race) coming up, so, like, let’s see what he’s made of because that opens the door for bigger races down the road, whether it’s one of these little derbies around or next year. It gives us an idea that he can do it.”

Flurry said Zero Sugar could run again at Oaklawn before the meeting ends in early May, with the logical target being a first-level allowance.

“The only thing we’ve talked about is if he runs well, we’ll start looking at some stuff over the summer,” Flurry said. “But as of right now, stick with leaving him where he can run well and get more experience.”

Flurry purchased Zero Sugar for $180,000 last May at Fasig-Tipton’s Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The son of Twirling Candy has earned $88,000.

Flurry was Oaklawn’s leading owner last season with 26 victories.

~ Robert Yates for Oaklawn Park