Line of David assured himself a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate with a gutsy, front-running victory in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park on Apr. 10. It was the third consecutive win, but first in graded stakes, for the 3-year-old son of Lion Heart.

Line of David was prepped by Eddie Woods at his Ocala Training Center and subsequently consigned to the 2009 OBS March 2-year-old sale, where he brought a final price of $150,000.

The chestnut colt was making his first start outside of California and on a traditional dirt surface. He was unsuccessful in three tries on synthetics, then reeled off two wins when switched to the turf. In the Arkansas Derby, he broke on top, opened a four-length lead on the backstretch, then dug in resolutely when Super Saver and Dublin challenged him in the stretch. Neither foe could get by in the lane, and Line of David won by a neck in 1:49 1/5 for the nine furlongs, earning a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure. He earned $600,000 in the Arkansas Derby, boosting his overall total to $662,000. He is owned by Ike and Dawn Thrash and trained by John Sadler.