Another year, another Arkansas Derby (gr. I) where trainer Bob Baffert has the favorite in the $1 million race at Oaklawn Park.

This year, the choice appears to beCupid, who broke through in his first stakes start last time out at the Arkansas oval in the March 19 Rebel Stakes (gr. II).

The lightly raced Tapit   colt will look to repeat the success of American Pharoah  , who completed the Rebel-Arkansas Derby double en route to last year’s Triple Crown score, but Baffert is no stranger to favoritism in Oaklawn’s signature Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prep.

NOVAK: Derby-Focused Baffert is Over ‘Pharoah’ Blues

Cupid, the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday, could become the sixth straight post-time favorite for Baffert in the Arkansas Derby. American Pharoah went off at 1-9 last year, Bayern   (third) was 3-2 in 2014, War Academy (did not finish) was 9-5 in 2013, Bodemeister  (first) was 2-1 in 2012, and The Factor   (seventh) was 4-5 in 2011.

Cupid finished fourth and second, respectively, in his first two starts sprinting in Southern California, but shined in his two-turn debut, a runaway 5 1/4-length maiden special weight score at Santa Anita ParkFeb. 7, in which he defeated eventual Wood Memorial (gr. I) runner-upTrojan Nation, who was nine lengths back in third.

He took another step up in the Rebel and showed a different dimension after stalking the pace in every race prior. Cupid broke slowly in the Rebel and was rushed in between horses up by jockey Martin Garcia to set the set the pace, nearly hit the rail at the top of the stretch, then gamely held off a late drive from Whitmore to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

ANGST: Baffert Claims Another Rebel Win With Cupid

“He’s shown he’s different than a sprinter,” Baffert said. “He’s come around quickly since January; he’s really matured a lot. … We knew he was a nice horse, but (in the Rebel) he showed us something different. He can be a little bit of a handful like most Tapits—they can get a little bit excited—so we put a lot of work into him just to keep him relaxed and focused.”

Cupid will break from post 10 in the 12-horse field, and 9-2 second choice Whitmore will challenge again two spots to his inside in post 8.

“I knew that we still had a very good horse in front of us, who was able to control the pace after the first quarter, and it would be hard if he had much left in him and he did,” said Whitmore’s trainer, Ron Moquett, of the Rebel run, when the top two finished 1 3/4 lengths clear of another Arkansas Derby runner, Creator. “Neither horse backed up, they both kept going forward, but he had more in his tank that day. … I’m excited to have a horse this nice in a race this cool, (and I) just want a good post position and a good trip, and let’s see who’s got the best horse.”

Also back from the Rebel is Smarty Jones Stakes winner Discreetness, who went on to finish seventh in both the Southwest (gr. III) and Rebel;Suddenbreakingnews (fifth), the Southwest winner who encountered trouble in the Rebel; Gray Sky (sixth); and Cutacorner (eighth).

Intriguing new shooters include American Pioneer, an impressive last-out winner in an Oaklawn maiden special weight event March 19; third-place Louisiana Derby (gr. II) finisher Dazzling Gem, who had a troubled trip at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and is undefeated in two starts over the Oaklawn oval; and Gettysburg, the fifth-place finisher in the Sam F. Davis (gr. III) who came in second last time out in the Sunland Park Festival of Racing Stakes.

Last-out allowance winner Luna de Loco and maiden winnerUnbridled Outlaw complete the field.

 Arkansas Derby (gr. I)