Derby News

A handful in the saddling area, but all business on the racetrack, Lael Stable's Barbaro fought through a heated stretch duel in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park to emerge one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby. Now undefeated in five career starts, the favorite captured South Florida's biggest three-year-old event by half a length over six to one shot Sharp Humor, with Sunriver back in third. All three of the top finishers are likely to head to Louisville, with several others possibly still pointing for the Run for the Roses as well. But the day belonged to Barbaro.

"I'm more nervous now than I was when I carried the flag in Atlanta," trainer Michael Matz remarked to USA Network reporters following the win. Matz was part of America's silver medal-winning Equestrian team at the Atlanta Olympic Games, where he carried the flag during closing ceremonies. "He's done everything we've asked of him. We'll keep him here about a week or so, and then probably go to Keeneland, probably work once there and then go to Churchill Downs."

For Matz, who has trained several top runners, it was one of the biggest victories in a relatively short Thoroughbred training career. Barbaro, a son of Dynaformer bred and foaled in Kentucky by his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, earned $600,000 for the victory to push his career earnings to almost $850,000. Previously, the colt had captured the Laurel Futurity and the Tropical Park Derby--both on turf, and he won the Holy Bull back in early February on a sloppy track.

In his first try on a fast, main track, Barbaro and jockey Edgar Prado were bumped a little at the start, but they hustled quickly up to second and remained there most of the race. Sharp Humor, the upset winner of the Swale Stakes, set the pace under Mark Guidry, with an opening quarter in :23.45, a half-mile in :47.35 and three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.37. About mid-point on the turn for home, Barbaro ranged up alongside of Sharp Humor but was unable to gain any ground. Sharp Humor was still leading by a head at the top of the stretch, and, down on the inside rail, appeared to have victory in his grasp, only to succomb to a second, late burst by Barabaro.

"I saw Sharp Humor break sharp, so I just followed him," Prado remarked to track publicists after the race. "Barbaro was pretty much in control of the race. So far, this is my Derby horse."

"Edgar said he got to acting a little goofy with that other horse eyeballing him," Matz added. "But this was the first time he realy had that experience."

For Dale Romans, the trainer of Sharp Humor, the experience was somewhat disappointing.

"That's a nice horse that beat us," Romans said. "If you would have told me yesterday that I'd get beat a head, I'd be ecstatic, but my horse just fought so hard and kept looking like he was going to win. It's become a disappointment. But tomorrow, I'll be ecstatic again. We're going to train him up to the Kentucky Derby."

Others were somewhat disappointed, but nonetheless undetered. "We're obviously disappointed with the way our horse ran," Kiaran McLaughlin remarked of Flashy Bull, second favorite in the betting but seventh, beaten over 10 lengths. "Perhaps he's entitled to have a sub-par race because he's always been improving for us. Maybe the kickback wasn't to his liking, because he's been on the outside in the clear in his last four races. But two very good horses ran one-two. We'll regroup and point fo rthe Kentucky Derby."

As for third-place finisher Sunriver, who was moving up from an allowance score, "He ran very well," trainer Todd Pletcher commented. "He got shuffled into the first turn, and that cost him a little bit of position, and then he was stuck out wide the rest of the way. But he continued to close and was still inching up at the end. We're using this as a Kentucky Derby prep."

Sunriver may have to play a waiting game, to see if his $190,000 worth of graded stakes earnings are enough to earn a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. Meanwhile Barbaro, who completed the mile and an eighth in a respectable time of 1:49.01, has his spot secured. Should all go well, he'll enter the Derby off five weeks rest, with just two prep races over the course of thirteen weeks. Barbaro returned $5.20, $3.60 and $2.80. Sharp Humor paid $5.80, $3.80 and Sunriver returned $3.60 to show. « Back To Derby News

Derby Info