LOUISVILLE — Barber Road and Zozos, both of whom turned in runner-up efforts in major Kentucky Derby preps, turned in their respective penultimate works for the May 7 classic on Friday morning at Churchill Downs. 

Arkansas Derby runner-up Barber Road, working with jockey Reylu Gutierrez aboard shortly after the mid-morning harrow break, worked six furlongs in 1:16.40 seconds, according to Churchill Downs clockers. The main track was officially rated fast at that time, despite still holding moisture from rain the day before. 

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- The first words out of trainer Antonio Sano’s mouth upon answering his phone a short while after Simplification turned in his penultimate breeze for the 2022 Kentucky Derby Friday morning at Gulfstream Park were, “Hello Mike, how are you?”  The next four, without hesitation, were “So happy! So happy!”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Todd Pletcher has established himself in the trenches in Louisville, and Friday morning, the troops were at work. Pletcher, who will have a string at Churchill Downs throughout this upcoming meeting, sent out Wood Memorial winner Mo Donegal and Florida Derby runner-up Charge It out for their penultimate breezes for the Kentucky Derby, after earlier in the morning working a trio of candidates for the Kentucky Oaks.

Jose Ortiz will ride Simplification in the 148^th Kentucky Derby on May 7, his agent, Jim Riccio Jr., confirmed Thursday.

Ortiz has ridden Simplification to a victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream and a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby there. Ortiz has been the regular rider of Early Voting, the Grade 3 Withers winner and Grade 2 Wood Memorial runner-up. While trainer Chad Brown has not discounted running Early Voting in the Kentucky Derby, he reiterated Thursday he is “60-40” leaning to running him in the Preakness on May 21.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eric Reed has a Kentucky Derby horse. Rich Strike might not become an actual Derby starter, depending on what happens in the next two weeks, but his name will appear on the Churchill Downs program as part of the field for the Derby on May 7 nonetheless.

Epicenter

Not This Time – Silent Candy, by Candy Ride

Bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farms ($260,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds)

The young stallion Not This Time has enjoyed a stellar spring with his runners. His leading 3-year-old is Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter, who will be among the favorites in the Kentucky Derby in less than three weeks.

WHO’S HOT

After 37 races spread over 210 days, everyone with designs on the Kentucky Derby knows where they sit. For those in the top 20 on points, they’re in, holding their breath that nothing untoward bubbles forth. For those just outside the top 20, they’re hoping a spot opens before the race is run at Churchill Downs May 7. The door isn’t quite shut. Yes, we’re saying there’s a chance.

Rafael Bejarano will ride Happy Jack in the Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs, trainer Doug O'Neill said Tuesday, reuniting a trainer and jockey team that had terrific success in Southern California before Bejarano returned to the Kentucky circuit.

Happy Jack, a Calumet Farm homebred colt by Oxbow, secured enough points to run in the Derby by finishing a distant third in his most recent start, the Santa Anita Derby, behind Taiba and Messier. He also finished third in his prior start, the San Felipe Stakes.

Grade 3, $398,750 Lexington Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland, April 16, 2022
(20 Derby qualifying points for first, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth)

Winner: Tawny Port, by Pioneerof the Nile
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Owner: Peachtree Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 89