Brad Cox's Cyberknife wins Arkansas Derby; White Abarrio captures Florida Derby
Two weeks ago, Louisville trainer Brad Cox wasn’t sure he’d have a horse qualify for the Kentucky Derby. Now, he may have three.
The Cox-trained Cyberknife made a strong move on the backstretch and held off the late-charging Barber Road to win Saturday’s $1.25 million, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
Cyberknife, a son of Gun Runner, earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, assuring a spot in the May 7 race at Kentucky Derby.
Two other Cox trainees – Louisiana Derby runner-up Zozos and Jeff Ruby Steaks runner-up Tawny Port – have 40 qualifying points and likely will qualify for the Kentucky Derby if their owners want to compete.
Kentucky Derby 2022: Check out who's in the field and who's on the bubble
“This is good stuff,” Cox said. “We kind of struggled throughout the winter, but I felt like we had some colts that were ready to pop and run big races and it worked out.”
Cox is the reigning Kentucky Derby champion with Mandaloun, who was declared the winner of the 2021 race following the disqualification of Medina Spirit.
Cyberknife, ridden by Florent Geroux, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.42 and paid $13.60.
Barber Road, trained by John Ortiz, finished 2 3/4 lengths back in second and now has 58 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. Secret Oath, the filly trained by D. Wayne Lukas, finished third and earned 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. She already has qualified to run in the Kentucky Oaks on May 6 at Churchill Downs. No filly has competed in the Kentucky Derby since 2010.
Cyberknife improved to 3-2-0 in six career starts. He finished sixth in his 3-year-old debut – the Grade 3 Lecomte on Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds – but bounced back to win an optional-claiming race Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds.
White Abarrio wins Florida Derby
White Abarrio took the lead with a furlong remaining and held on for a 1 1/4-length victory in the $1 million, Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
White Abarrio, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.64 and paid $7.80 to win.
White Abarrio earned 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby. Gaffalione said his horse shouldn’t mind the 1 ¼-mile distance of the Kentucky Derby.
“I don’t see it being a problem,” he said. “This horse has so much talent. He just keeps finding more and finding more. I don’t think we’ve got to the bottom of him yet.”
2022 Kentucky Derby: Check out our Better Derby Betting event for tips
Charge It, the Todd Pletcher trainee making his stakes debut, finished second and earned 40 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Third-place Simplification (20 points) and fourth-place Pappacap (10 points) also earned points toward the Derby.
Classic Causeway set fractions of 23.26 seconds for the quarter-mile and 47.36 seconds for the half-mile but faded and finished last in the field. He previously had won the Tampa Bay Derby and already has enough points (66) to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.
White Abarrio, a gray son of Race Day, improved to 4-0-1 in five career starts. He won the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Feb. 5 at Gulfstream but missed the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 5. His training schedule was altered last week after spiking a fever, but it didn’t bother him Saturday.
“Once he comes out good and all being well," Joseph said, "we’re going to go to Churchill and keep dreaming.”
Tiz the Bomb wins Jeff Ruby
Tiz the Bomb made a three-wide move off the final turn to take the lead and pulled away for a 2 1/4-length victory over Tawny Port in the $600,000, Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Tiz the Bomb, trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.60 and paid $5.20 to win as the 8-5 favorite. Tiz the Bomb earned 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby.
More horse racing: Bob Baffert's suspension to begin Monday after motion denied
Tawny Port, trained by Louisville’s Brad Cox, earned 40 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby. Third-place Rich Strike (20 points) and fourth-place Dowagiac Chief (10 points) also earned Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
Tiz the Bomb, a son of Hit It a Bomb, improved to 5-1-0 in eight career starts. After a promising 2-year-old campaign, he opened his 3-year-old campaign with a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Feb. 5 at Gulfstream. He bounced back to win the John Battaglia Memorial on March 5 at Turfway.
Before the Jeff Ruby, McPeek said Tiz the Bomb might not necessarily use the race as a Kentucky Derby prep, instead looking ahead to races in Europe.
"We're certainly not going to rule (the Kentucky Derby out," McPeek said. "We have some options, and we have some great options."
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby 2022: Cyberknife, White Abarrio, Tiz the Bomb get spots
