Barbaro Wins Derby
In this, the first Derby post-Giacomo, the feeling of trainers and turf writers and handicappers everywhere seemed to be that anything could happen. The race was wide open, the field the most competitive assembled in years — 8, 10, even 12 starters were serious contenders for the roses. So why did the race seem to be over before the field turned for home?
Keyed Entry and Sinister Minister played their parts as pacesetters perfectly, leaping into first and second place at the break and running moderate fractions of :22.6, :46, and 1:10.8. Barbaro, stumbling on his way out the gate, raced behind less than four lengths off the pace, getting the perfect trip, in which he was neither too wide nor hindered by traffic. And when the field came into the final turn, he accelerated into the lead easily. Even jockey Edgar Prado, who deserves much credit for positioning the colt so well, “was amazed how easily Barbaro, a son of Dynaformer out of La Ville Rouge, floated around the track. ‘It was just a matter of time before I could turn him loose,’ Prado said.”
Barbaro bucked history in winning the Derby — he came into the race off a five-week layoff following a win in the Florida Derby. Trainer Michael Matz said he scheduled Barbaro’s preps that way so that he would have a fresh horse. “We never wavered one bit from our plan,” said Matz after. ”And it looks like we had the right plan.”
I didn’t have Barbaro on any of my tickets — I thought he’d have trouble putting away any fast closers who might come at him in the final yards, but there were no fast closers. As Barbaro lengthened his lead to win by 6 1/2 lengths, it was clear that everyone else was racing for second. “It was very impressive,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, whose Bluegrass Cat finished second. “[Barbaro] looked great through the stretch and actually galloped out. The Belmont doesn’t look like it will be a problem.”
Pletcher wasn’t the only other trainer impressed: “He’s better than I thought,” said Danny Peitz, trainer of third-place finisher Steppenwolfer. “I thought Barbaro was a very good grass horse and a good dirt horse, but he’s obviously better than that.”
Jazil and Brother Derek finished in a dead heat for fourth. Favorite Sweetnorthernsaint finished seventh. “That was nothing but a shrinking rear end, was what the rest of the race was,” said Sweetnorthernsaint’s rider, Kent Desormeaux.
The final time of the race was 2:01.36, which makes Barbaro’s Derby the 14th fastest in Derby history. He earned a 111 Beyer speed figure for the race, and his margin of victory was the widest since Assault won the 1946 Kentucky Derby by eight lengths. That colt — owned and bred by Robert Kleburg of King Ranch, the grandfather of Matz’s wife, D.D. — went on to win the Triple Crown.
Barbaro will take the next step toward becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 28 years when he starts in the Preakness on May 20. “It seems like he’s a great horse,” said Matz on Sunday morning, discussing plans to ship Barbaro to Maryland and enter him in the next leg of the series. “Let’s see what happens … If he could win the Triple Crown it would be an unbelievable accomplishment.”
– In the next couple of weeks, the question of whether or not the undefeated colt can win the elusive title will preoccupy many. Count Andrew Beyer among those coming out early in support of his bid: “Barring some unlucky development, he is going to win the Triple Crown … Barbaro has the whole package. He is fast enough to run with fast sprinters. Yet he possesses a strong finishing kick and a pedigree that suggests he will be even more effective at longer distances.”
– The Derby winner won’t be the only one to move on to the Preakness: Brother Derek, Sweetnorthernsaint, and Jazil are also likely starters in that race, as is Lawyer Ron. Bluegrass Cat and Steppenwolfer will likely start next in the Belmont.
– Breaking from post 18 and caught wide, Brother Derek got a terrible trip and “never had a chance,” said jockey Alex Solis. “Down the backside, he got into a lot of dirt and you could see him jumping around, kind of looking for a clear spot,” said trainer Dan Hendricks. As for Lawyer Ron, who won six straight before finishing 12th in the Derby, “He just didn’t have any punch turning for home,” said trainer Bob Holthus. “He just never really kicked it in. That is the first time he has ever run that way.” Blood-Horse has excuses for everyone here.
– A record $118 million was wagered on this year’s Derby.
– Photographer Dan Dry has a great Derby day portfolio up. I particularly like this photo of jockey Edgar Prado raising his helmet in celebration on the way back to the winner’s circle.
