Barber Road, Bell's the One Work at Churchill

WSS Racing's Barber Road  and Lothenbach Stables' grade 1 winner Bell's the One  lit up the work tab at Churchill Downs May 28, as Barber Road prepares for a start in the June 11 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Belmont Park.

Working five furlongs in 1:01 1/5, the John Ortiz-trained son of Race Day put in his second timed move since he finished sixth in the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). 

Ortiz reported the colt exited the move in "great shape" and added: "Got a clean bill of health and soundness from our vets, assistant trainer, and myself. We haven't seen him look this sharp before... like he finally hit that maturity we've been waiting for. Very athletic-looking."

Meanwhile, Bell's the One sizzled a swift half-mile in :47 1/5 under Corey Lanerie, second-fastest of 135 at the distance on the day. The 6-year-old Neil Pessin trainee was returning to the tab for the first time since a fourth in the May 7 Derby City Distaff Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1). She is pointing toward a start in the June 25 Chicago Stakes (G3) at Churchill.

Bell's the One has won five times at Churchill, including the 2020 Derby City Distaff.

"I thought she was a little flat (last out)," Pessin said. "This will give her a little extra time between her starts and still be able to run over the track we know she loves."