Withers runner-up Un Ojo headed to Rebel Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Early Voting and Un Ojo, the first- and second-place finishers from the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 5, both returned to the work tab on Monday at Belmont Park as they prepare for their next assignments.

While there has been no decision yet on where Early Voting will start next, Un Ojo was entered Monday for Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Tony Dutrow, who trained Un Ojo while the horse was in New York, oversaw Monday’s work – a half-mile in 50.06 seconds over the Belmont training track – but the horse will run Saturday in trainer Ricky Corville’s name. Corville trained the horse for his first three starts before the horse shipped to New York.

Dutrow said owner Mike Moreno, who races under the name Cypress Creek Equine, didn’t want to turn Un Ojo back to a one-turn race such as the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham here on March 5. The Rebel is run at 1 1/16 miles around two turns and has a pot of $1 million.

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“My client chose to run there because he liked the two turns and a million dollars,” Dutrow said. “He’s adamant about coming back to run in the Wood Memorial.”

Un Ojo, named so because he only has one eye, rallied from last to finish second, 4 1/2 lengths behind a loose-on-the-lead Early Voting in the Withers, which was run at 1 1/8 miles. Prior to that, Un Ojo was beaten a neck by Geno in the $500,000 Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series at seven furlongs.

Speaking of Monday’s work, Dutrow said: “I thought he went great. I was happy with him. I hope he goes down there and runs okay.”

The horse will fly Fed Ex from Newark, N.J., to Memphis, Tenn., and then van to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Meanwhile, Early Voting worked a half-mile in 49.34 seconds, with a final quarter of 24.19 over the training track. He worked in company with recent allowance winner Southern District. Early Voting has only made two starts – he’s won them both – so trainer Chad Brown is deciding whether to run him in the Gotham, which would mean cutting him back to a one-turn mile, or simply waiting for the Wood on April 9. The Wood is run at 1 1/8 miles around two turns.

“Still not sure,” Brown texted on Monday.

The nominations for the Gotham were released over the weekend. Among the early possible/probables are Dean’s List and Golden Code, both from the barn of Todd Pletcher, Fromanothamutha, Glider, Morello, and Noneedtoworry. Rockefeller is under consideration for trainer Bob Baffert.