Barber Road moved closer to a scheduled start in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 2 with a half-mile work over a fast track Saturday morning at Oaklawn.
Breezing immediately following the surface renovation break, Barber Road covered the distance in :48.20 under exercise rider Elexander Aguilar. Clockers caught Barber Road in :25 for his opening quarter and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01 and six furlongs in 1:14.80.
Barber Road, on the outside, breezed with stablemate Greatheart, a 3-year-old Empire Maker colt who is winless in two career starts. Both horses worked from the half-mile pole to the regular finish line. Greatheart also was credited with a half-mile in :48.20.
Barber Road, who races for former Walmart executive William Simon, was breezing for the first time since finishing third, beaten a half-length, in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 26. The Rebel was Oaklawn's final major prep for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby.
“Today, we were just doing a little maintenance half-mile in company to keep him fresh and on his toes,” trainer John Ortiz said. “We were trying to see a better gallop out, just something really strong after the wire. So, he went nice and steady. I got him in :48 and change and like a minute galloping out, so that's kind of what I wanted to see. He looked a lot more fresh. He's been acting fresher and I'm hoping that's going to be the key to get him a little quicker out of the gate, get him a little bit closer to the lead.”
The consistent Barber Road finished second in Oaklawn's first two Kentucky Derby points races –Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 mile Jan. 1 and Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 29 – and has never been worse than fourth in seven career starts. Barber Road ranks 12th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 18 points, according to Churchill Downs. A top four finish in the Arkansas Derby likely would secure Barber Road a spot in the Kentucky Derby, which is limited to 20 starters.
Ortiz said Barber Road will have his final work for the Arkansas Derby March 26.
Nominations to the Arkansas Derby closed Friday, with post positions to be drawn March 27. The Arkansas Derby will offer 170 points (100-40-20-10, respectively) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.
Other horses pointing for the Arkansas Derby include star filly Secret Oath for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Un Ojo (Ricky Courville), Chasing Time (Steve Asmussen), We the People (Rodolphe Brisset) and Cyberknife (Brad Cox).
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