Smarty Jones Stakes winner Junebugred worked today at Oaklawn Park toward the Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 20.

Under exercise rider William Hollick, the nominal leader of the 3-year-old pack at Oaklawn went five furlongs in 1:02.00 (10/56). He had a target in workmate Isabull, who finished his breeze in 1:03.00 (24/56).

“It was great,” said trainer Steve Hobby. “It was just what I asked for. He went with Isabull a couple lengths ahead of him, and William let him go in the stretch and finished a couple lengths in front of him and galloped out strongly. This was the main work. He’s plenty fit, but we wanted to see him lope out there through a strong three-quarters, and that’s what he did.”

Hobby now feels like Junebugred (Worth Watching) is well positioned to progress from his neck-length win on Jan. 16.

“This makes it a lot easier,” said Hobby. “If he hadn’t have worked like this, then you have to think about coming back with something more this week. There’s less pressure now on him.”

It was the second workout for Junebugred since the Smarty Jones. On Jan. 29, he breezed four furlongs in :48.40 (4/82).

--Edited track release with additional content by Dick Downey