Trainer Todd Pletcher strengthened his Kentucky Derby bid when he won Saturday’s Arkansas Derby with the progressive colt Magnum Moon.

Magnum Moon is Pletcher’s fifth Arkansas Derby winner since his first with Graeme Hal in 2000 and adds to his strong recent history with the G1 race.

He recorded back-to-back win with Overanalyze and Danza in 2013 and 2014 while Super Saver went down by a neck in 2010 but managed to go one better in the Kentucky Derby three weeks later to give Pletcher his first victory in the ‘Run for the Roses’.

Always Dreaming, a son of the 2012 Arkansas Derby winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Bodemeister, became his second Kentucky Derby winner last May.

Undefeated Magnum Moon Romps in the Arkansas Derby for Trainer Todd Pletcher, Owners Robert & Lawana Low with Jockey Luis Saez aboard! pic.twitter.com/7Uw1AYBwcw

— TVGApril 14, 2018

Magnum Moon will have his fair share of supporters to add to Pletcher’s record following his front-running defeat of stablemate Quip.

Sent to the lead by Luis Saez, Magnum Moon slowed the pace through the middle stages and had plenty left when popped the question, winning easily while drifting out in the last furlong.

“I thought he finished with good energy and was pulling away from some nice horses,” Pletcher said.

Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip raced to his outside while Solomini settled a few places further back before drifting wide on the first turn.

When Quip tried turning up the pressure on his stablemate at the three furlong point, Magnum Moon more than had the answers and will head to Louisville undefeated.

Magnum Moon debuted with a maiden win on January 13 at Gulfstream Park then recorded an allowance win at Tampa on February 15 before powering home from off-the-pace to best Solomini by 3.5 lengths in Tampa’s G2 Rebel Stakes.

Magnum Moon is campaigned by Robert and Lawana Low, who have been down the Triple Crown trail before with Steppenwolfer.

He was runner-up in the 2006 Arkansas Derby before finishing third in Barbaro’s Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Belmont Stakes.