Barbaro is finished playing around at his country home in the Maryland hills.
The unbeaten Kentucky Derby winner jogged early on Friday at the tranquil Fair Hill Training Center before he was shipped by van for the one-hour trip to Pimlico to get back to business.
As the colt walked down the ramp into the traditional winner's stall, No. 40, trainer Michael Matz was certain Barbaro was ready for his next task: A victory in today's US$1 million (790,000 euros) Preakness Stakes and then an attempt at what 10 horses have tried and failed to do since Affirmed in 1978 -- become a US Triple Crown champion.
"I would love him to win the Preakness and go on," Matz said outside his barn at Fair Hill. "But first we've got this job in front of us."
There have been many Triple Crown close calls in the past decade, with six horses winning the first two legs in the last nine years. The closest came in 1998, when Real Quiet was nosed out at the wire in the Belmont Stakes, the final jewel in US thoroughbred racing's crowning achievement. The most recent bid was a heartbreaker, too, when Smarty Jones was caught in the final 70m.
On the eve of the 131st Preakness, Barbaro has racing fans on edge. For weeks, Matz has been saying his strapping 3-year-old bay colt has the "ability, heart and the desire to win -- and he's undefeated."
Assistant trainer Peter Brette, who exercises the horse every morning, is even more succinct. Asked what it feels like to be aboard, the Englishman says simply, "like a Rolls Royce."
Barbaro was bred to be a top-of-the-line model. His stamina was provided by his sire, Dynaformer, his speed by his dam, La Ville Rouge. Barbaro's versatility as a turf and dirt star show up throughout his pedigree, and he's shown he doesn't mind running in the slop.
Most impressive, though, was the way he pulled off to win by 6-1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs two weeks ago. That convinced most of his Derby rivals not to bother showing up at Pimlico. The margin of victory was the largest since Triple Crown winner Assault won by eight lengths 60 years ago, and jockey Edgar Prado didn't even use his whip in the stretch.
Put it all together, and a nine-horse field has just two Derby contenders back for another shot, with Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint seeking a smoother ride than they got in a 20-horse field at the Derby. Even if they do, the question remains whether it will be enough to beat a colt who has improved with every race.
RSS