Barber Road, who has not started since fishing unplaced in the Belmont (G1) June 11, completed major preparations for his scheduled comeback this month, working five furlongs in 1:02.40 after the surface renovation break Friday morning at Oaklawn under David Cabrera. The track was muddy.
Following the work, trainer John Ortiz said Barber Road is still being considered for the $200,000 Tinsel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 17 at Oaklawn, with an allowance race that day another option. Barber Road's major local objective, Ortiz said, is the $1-million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles April 22.
“We're going to kind of fiddle with both,” said Ortiz, who trains the 2022 Arkansas Derby runner-up for former Walmart executive William Simon. “I wanted to see how he did in this breeze. Obviously, he's a nice horse and we would like to keep him in stakes because of what he's done, but he's got options. He's got conditions. It (Tinsel) is a mile and an eighth and it might be asking a little much, but he's got to get going.”
Ortiz said he would huddle with Simon, in town to watch the work, before making a decision. Post positions for the Dec. 17 card will be drawn Monday.
Barber Road was among three horses to go through Oaklawn's four-race Kentucky Derby points series in 2022, finishing second in the Smarty Jones Stakes, second in the Southwest Stakes (G3), third in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and second in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) before finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 7 then seventh in the Belmont.
A 3-year-old son of multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Race Day, Barber Road has never faced older horses.
The post ‘He’s Got To Get Going’: Barber Road Completes Major Preparations For Return appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
