Three Takeaways from 2022 Arkansas Derby

Apr 06, 2022 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

A major qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series,
the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park shifted location on the
calendar this year, moving from three to five weeks out from the first Saturday in May.
The top two finishers from the 1 1/8-mile race are Kentucky Derby-bound.

Cyberknife didn’t
live up to expectations early in his career, losing three of his first four
starts, including a well-beaten sixth in January’s Lecomte (G3), but the light
bulb appeared to come on in mid-February when recording a sharp three-length
allowance triumph on the Risen Star undercard at Fair Grounds.

The Brad Cox-trained Gun Runner colt carried his momentum forward in the Arkansas Derby, registering a 2 3/4-length victory, and
Cyberknife will bring improving form to the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

Hustled from post 8 by Florent Geroux, Cyberknife was four
wide with the leaders passing the finish line the first time. He angled in and
dropped behind rivals on the bend, entering the backstretch about three lengths
back in fourth, and launched an early move along the inside approaching the far
turn, splitting pacesetter Kavod and pressing Chasing Time.

Cyberknife put away Kavod by the top of the stretch, surging
a couple of lengths clear as he straightened for home, and the chestnut maintained
a comfortable advantage to the wire. The pace was solid (:22.10 and :46.54),
and Cyberknife possesses the tactical foot to make his own trip.

Cox won two legs of last year’s Triple Crown, and Cyberknife
appears to be on an upward trajectory for the two-time reigning Eclipse
Award-winning conditioner. But Cyberknife will need to run faster after netting
only a 94 Brisnet Speed rating in the Arkansas Derby.

By comparison, Epicenter received a 101 Speed figure for his
Louisiana Derby win a week earlier.

Whether he can move forward enough at Churchill Downs
remains to be seen, but Cyberknife looked promising winning the Arkansas Derby.

Barber Road always
comes running late for a minor award, it’s his modus operandi. The gray colt notched
his fifth consecutive stakes placing, rallying fast to edge 7-5 favorite Secret
Oath by about a length for second.

The John Ortiz-trained gray colt also finished second in the Southwest (G3) and Smarty Jones S., and third in the Rebel (G3), at Oaklawn.

Barber Road won’t be among the fastest Kentucky Derby runners
based upon Speed ratings, but his determination shouldn’t be easily dismissed
when considering candidates to fill vertical exotics like the trifecta and
superfecta.