Far Right continues Arkansas Derby preparations with five-furlong move

Southwest S. (G3) hero

Far Right (Notional) continued preparations for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1)

on April 11

by working five furlongs after the renovation break Thursday morning at Oaklawn

under Greta Kuntzweiler.

Far Right, who worked in company with stablemate

Peteizum (Safe in the U S A), a five-year-old starter-allowance gelding, was credited with 1:00

4/5 over

a fast-rated surface. According to clockers, he covered his final quarter-mile

in :24 2/5 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 4/5. Peteizum went five panels in

1:01 2/5.

Trainer Ron Moquett said early Thursday morning that he would monitor the track

surface before deciding when to breeze Far Right for the second time since his

victory in the February 22 Southwest.

"I've read all the quotes from the Derby trainers over the years," Moquett

stated moments after the work. "It doesn't matter whether they worked 1:05 or

:58, it was: 'Exactly what they were looking for.' As long as he came back good,

that's all I care about."

Far Right, in his first work since the Southwest, breezed five furlongs in 1:04

on March 9. The chestnut also won the Smarty Jones S. on January 19 in his three-year-old

debut. Moquett said Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, aboard for both the Smarty

Jones and Southwest, is scheduled to again ride Far Right in the Arkansas Derby.

Although the Kentucky Derby (G1) candidate has been listed as a colt, Far

Right will be denoted as a ridgling "going forward," Moquett added Thursday morning.

The Kentucky-bred was listed as a colt for both the Smarty Jones

and Southwest.