Un Ojo, Barber Road work for Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Arkansas Derby candidates Un Ojo and Barber Road put in works toward the April 2 race at Oaklawn Park at separate locales on Saturday.

Un Ojo worked at his base of the Copper Crowne training center near Lafayette, La. The winner of the Grade 1, $1 million Rebel last month at Oaklawn breezed five furlongs in 1:03 on a fast track. The move was the fastest of six at the distance Saturday at Copper Crowne.

Trainer Ricky Courville said Un Ojo worked by himself and galloped out seven-eighths. The move came under former jockey Tyler Woodley. Ramon Vazquez has the mount in the Arkansas Derby, said Courville.

“It was a good work for him,” Courville said. “He’s never really a big work horse in the morning, but it was a nice, comfortable work. He galloped out strong. Tyler had trouble pulling him up.”

Courville said Un Ojo will ship to Oaklawn on Tuesday and is scheduled to breeze over the track next Saturday.

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The Arkansas Derby is a Grade 1, $1.25 million race that offers its winner 100 points for the Kentucky Derby. Un Ojo picked up 50 points for his Rebel victory.

Barber Road worked at Oaklawn on Saturday, going a half-mile in company and galloping out five furlongs, said trainer Johnny Ortiz. The track was fast track. Barber Road is coming off a third-place finish in the Rebel.

“Barber Road had a wonderful workout,” Ortiz said. “He worked a half-mile behind company. They broke off pretty sharp, and he was three [lengths] behind. He worked his way up through company and they finished together. I had him in 48 [seconds] and change and out in 1:01 and change. It was a nice little maintenance work.”

Ortiz said Reylu Gutierrez has the mount in the Arkansas Derby.

“We’ve got one more breeze next Saturday and then it’s literally off to the races,” said Ortiz.

Barber Road and Un Ojo are members of Daily Racing Form’s latest Derby Watch.

Prat to ride We the People

Jockey Flavien Prat will ride We the People in the Arkansas Derby, said trainer Rodolphe Brisset.

Florent Geroux has been on the promising colt for his two starts, both wins around two turns at Oaklawn.

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Geroux also has been the regular rider of Cyberknife and he will be aboard the Brad Cox trainee for the Arkansas Derby.

“It was a very difficult decision,” said Doug Bredar, agent for Geroux.

Cox said last Sunday that Cyberknife was on deck for the Arkansas Derby. The horse worked five-eighths in 1:00 on Saturday at Fair Grounds. He is a member of Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch.

Brisset said We the People will have a work for the Arkansas Derby next weekend. It will be the stakes debut for the son of Constitution.

Also expected for the Arkansas Derby is Secret Oath, a filly who on Thursday worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds at Oaklawn. The move, which came on a fast track, was the fastest of 34 at the distance that morning.

* Brisset said Yuugiri worked Saturday at Oaklawn for an intended start in the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy at the track April 2. She went a half-mile in 50 seconds. Brisset said she would be ridden by Geroux.