HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Un Ojo gave trainer Ricky Courville and jockey Ramon Vazquez their richest career victories Saturday by pulling off a 75-1 upset in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at Oaklawn Park.

The Laoban gelding also picked up 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Un Ojo ($152.80) forged through along the inside for a half-length win over Ethereal Road in the Rebel. It was a nose back in third to Barber Road, who finished a length and a quarter clear of fourth-place runner Kavod. Newgrange, the 4-5 favorite, pressed the pace but finished sixth Saturday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Simplification, who overcame a slow start to finish a game second in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, will have a new rider when he goes postward among the favorites in next Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A capacity field of 12 3-year-olds could be taking shape for the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth, a critical Kentucky Derby prep to be run at Gulfstream Park next Saturday.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, a three-time winner of the Fountain of Youth, will have at least one of the favorites for the 1 1/16-mile race in Emmanuel. Pletcher also has Mo Donegal under consideration, depending on how the colt was to work this weekend at his Palm Beach Downs winter base.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Newgrange will be meeting both familiar and fresh rivals Saturday when he seeks to run his career record to 4 for 4 in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at Oaklawn Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Derby points race has lured the first five finishers from last month’s Southwest Stakes, which Newgrange won, as well as a shipper from New York in Un Ojo and the exciting local runner Chasing Time in a packed field of 11.

Chasing Time

Not This Time – Race Hunter, by Dixie Union

Bred in Kentucky by Tentane Farm ($115,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Royal Flush Racing; $250,000 OBS April 2-year-old purchase by MyRacehorse)

WHO’S HOT

The light bulb went on with Epicenter after just one race. It’s been a slower burn with Chasing Time. Epicenter last week, in the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, won the first Kentucky Derby prep worth 50 points to the winner, and on Saturday Chasing Time will try to keep pace in the second, the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at Oaklawn.

Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Fair Grounds, Feb. 19, 2022
(50 Derby qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

Winner: Epicenter, by Not This Time
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 98

NEW ORLEANS – What a difference a month can make. 

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Barber Road has put trainer John A. Ortiz on a path to the Kentucky Derby, which has been a goal for the horseman since he opened his public racing stable in 2016.

Barber Road has run second in the first two Kentucky Derby points races at the Oaklawn Park meet and next Saturday is set to start as one of the top contenders in the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at Oaklawn.