A Heavenly Prize

 

A Heavenly Prize

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

Golden Tempo winning the 2026 Kentucky Derby
(The Courier-Journal)

In the aftermath of Golden Tempo’s astonishing victory in the 152^nd running of the Kentucky Derby, there have been well deserved accolades for his history making trainer Cherie DeVaux, jockey Jose Ortiz and the ownership partnership of Phipps and St. Elias Stables. The Derby winner, a son of preeminent stallion Curlin, has a female pedigree steeped in the Phipps family bloodlines. This is a stable that has bred and raced such equine legends as Bold Ruler, Buckpasser, Personal Ensign and Easy Goer. As a long time follower of the Phipps Stable racehorses, I would like this piece to focus on a personal favorite, Heavenly Prize, who happens to be a distant relative of Golden Tempo.

Golden Tempo’s third dam, Dancinginmydreams, was a full sister to Heavenly Prize. Starting her racing career as a two-year-old in 2000, she won her first start at Saratoga Racetrack and then finished second, just missing, in the Matron Stakes at Belmont Park. However, her racing career came to an abrupt halt when she broke down in her third start in the Frizette Stakes. (Fortunately, she was saved and retired.) Heavenly Prize, on the other hand, had a full racing career, winning major stakes races at age two, three and four years.

Heavenly Prize
(Skip Dickstein)

Born on February 17, 1991, Heavenly Prize was a sleek bay daughter of the Ogden Phipps’ top racehorse Seeking the Gold out of the Nijinsky II mare Oh What a Dance. Making her first start in September 1993, she cantered home 9 lengths clear in a 6 furlong maiden race at Belmont Park. Heavenly Prize’s next start, also at Belmont Park was the one mile Frizette Stakes. Strategic Maneuver, who had won her first four starts including the Schuylerville, Spinaway and Matron Stakes, was installed the prohibitive favorite, but Heavenly Prize drew attention in that her normally conservative trainer Shug McGaughey did not typically send horses into a major stakes race off a single maiden victory. Reserved off the early pace by jockey Mike Smith, Heavenly Prize made an eye catching move around the far turn to challenge for the lead and drew off majestically in the stretch for a 7 length victory in a final time faster than the two-year-old colts did in the Champagne Stakes run later on the Belmont card.

McGaughey sent Heavenly Prize west to contest the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita in her final year start. At post time, Heavenly Prize was a slight favorite over West Coasters Sardula and Phone Chatter. The daughter of Seeking the Gold raced along the inside in fourth place, but lacked a closing rally, finishing third beaten 3 lengths to the embattled pair of Phone Chatter and Sardula.

In March 1994 Heavenly Prize had her three-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park and found the 6 furlongs of the What a Summer Stakes too short in finishing second beaten 2½ lengths. A subsequent virus would keep her from racing till just before summer. The Phipps stable had a more than adequate replacement in Ogden Mills Phipps’ Inside Information, a tall daughter of Private Account from the same dam as the accomplished older filly Educated Risk. Inside Information, a winner of one of two starts in 1993, started the new year with a hard earned allowance win over Cinnamon Sugar, who would be a frequent pursuer. Racing next in the 8½ furlong Bonnie Miss Stakes at Gulfstream, Inside Information drew clear over Cinnamon Sugar for a 2¾ length victory. Sent to Keeneland for the 8½ furlong Ashland Stakes, the Phipps color bearer coasted to a 5½ length victory over Bunting who was a neck in front of Private Status. Cinnamon Sugar finished fourth in her third straight loss to Inside Information.

Trainer Shug McGaughey chose the Acorn Stakes over the Kentucky Oaks (they were run two days apart), as Inside Information’s next start. On a sloppy Belmont oval, the daughter of Private Account scored a runaway 11 length victory with Cinnamon Sugar reassuming her customary second place finish. In the next two years, stable mates Heavenly Prize and Inside Information would dominate the East Coast filly and mare division on dirt, and each would be rewarded with an Eclipse Award.

Heavenly Prize came back from her winter illness with two placings in sprint races, in June with a second in the 6 furlong Prioress Stakes at Belmont Park and a third in the 7 furlong Test Stakes at Saratoga. Her next start was the 1¼ mile Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. The heavy favorite was Lakeway who was second in the Kentucky Oaks but a runaway winner in both the Mother Goose Stakes (defeating Inside Information) and the Hollywood Oaks (defeating Kentucky Oaks winner Sardula).

Dismissed at over 5-1, bettors ignored that Heavenly Prize was bred for extended distances, and her losses sprinting were just conditioners. In the Alabama, Two Altazano set a moderate early pace until passed down the backstretch by Lakeway. Around the far turn, the Seattle Slew filly was cruising on a daylight lead, but, with Mike Smith aboard, Heavenly Prize took up the chase around the stretch turn. Just when it appeared there would be a duel in the stretch, the Phipps filly drew out imperially, leaving Lakeway in her wake. At the finish, Heavenly Prize was 7 lengths in front of the prohibitive favorite.

After the Alabama, Heavenly Prize returned to Belmont Park and won both the Gazelle Handicap and the Beldame Stakes impressively. In the Gazelle, carrying top weight of 123 lb., Heavenly Prize waited behind the other runners in fifth (last place) until mid-stretch when Mike Smith steered her to the outside, and she showed her tremendous stretch kick to win by 6½ lengths over Cinnamon Sugar (who was now familiar with seeing cherry red and black silks in front of her). Heavenly Prize only faced three opponents (one of which was stable mate Educated Risk) in the Beldame at scale weights. The presence of the formidable Phipps entry in the small field caused the Beldame to be held as a betless exhibition which Heavenly Prize won with a commanding 6 length victory over her stable mate under new rider Pat Day. (Mike Smith was committed to ride Sky Beauty in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.) By now, Heavenly Prize had assumed leadership in the sophomore filly division.

I would like to note the dominance of Phipps stable fillies. Inside Information was brilliant until forced to the sidelines after the Mother Goose. Heavenly Prize produced a championship campaign in the second half of the year. The four-year-old Dispute who had won the Kentucky Oaks in 1993, ended her career on a high note winning the Spinster Stakes. Finally, Educated Risk, Inside Information’s older half-sister was unbeatable after the Beldame, running away with the Churchill Budweiser Breeders’ Cup, Top Flight and Virginia Handicaps in 1994 and the Shirley Jones and Rampart Handicaps in early 1995, the last under 126 lb. After the Rampart, Educated Risk joined Dispute in the Phipps broodmare ranks at Claiborne Farm in Paris,  KY.

The Breeders’ Cup was run at Churchill Downs in 1994. The Breeders’ Cup Distaff set up as a championship decider for older filly/mares on dirt. Four-year-olds, Hollywood Wildcat and Sky Beauty, first and fifth respectively, in the previous year’s Distaff, were back again. With Lakeway, Sardula and Inside Information absent, the sole major contender for the sophomores was Heavenly Prize. She was originally coupled with her older stable mate, Dispute, but the latter was a late scratch, altering, the dynamics of the race. At post time, Hollywood Wildcat was the slight favorite over Sky Beauty with Heavenly Prize the strong third choice.

In a puzzling outcome, One Dreamer, at odds 47-1, galloped to the lead, was unchallenged while setting a slow pace under Gary Stevens and hung on grimly as Heavenly Prize mounted a late stretch charge. At the finish, One Dreamer, whose four previous starts had been on grass, was a neck in front of the Phipps color bearer. Third, 1½ lengths behind was Miss Dominque. Both Hollywood Wildcat and Sky Beauty were great disappointments, finishing sixth and ninth, respectively. Heavenly Prize’s effort in the Distaff was sufficient to secure her the Eclipse Award for Three-year-old Filly.

Heavenly Prize began her four-year-old campaign in 1995 in the Oaklawn Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap, finishing second to Halo America while conceding 6 lb. Her next start was the prestigious Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park which attracted Halo America and dual Apple Blossom victress Paseana. In the race, Halo America took the early lead, but with only a 4 lb. weight differential could not hold off Heavenly Prize’s dependable charge. At the finish, the Shug McGaughey trainee was a length in front of Halo America with Paseana finishing third, another 4 lengths behind.

The Phipps stable’s other star sophomore filly of 1994, Inside Information began her campaign at Keeneland winning a 7 furlong allowance race by 4 lengths. She next raced in the one mile Shuvee Handicap at Belmont Park where she faced Sky Beauty who had extended her perfect record at Belmont Park to 12 for 12 with a 4 length win in the Vagrancy Handicap to start her five-year-old season. Mike Smith, regular rider of both Inside Information and Sky Beauty chose the former, and Julie Krone was put aboard the latter. In the four horse Shuvee field, Inside Information, carrying 119 lb. (getting 7 lb. from Sky Beauty), forced the early pace and then drew clear in the stretch, winning by 5½ lengths over Sky Beauty, thus inflicting the first defeat of “The Queen of Belmont’s” illustrious career at her home track.

Shug McGaughey, wanting to keep Inside Information and Heavenly Prize apart, at least until the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, sent the former to New Jersey in early June for the 1 mile, 70 yd. Monmouth Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap and back again on July 4 for the 8½ furlong Molly Pitcher Handicap. The elegant daughter of Private Account used her good speed to win both by 2¼ lengths and 6¾ lengths, respectively, under top weight each time. Heavenly Prize stayed at Belmont where she ran in the 8½ furlong Hempstead Handicap against Sky Beauty. There was a 2 lb. difference in the Phipps’ filly favor, but that does not account for the margin of victory as Heavenly Prize came off the pace to defeat Little Buckles by 1¼ lengths with Sky Beauty some 10½ lengths further back in third place. This performance, one of her poorest ever and certainly her worst at Belmont Park, prompted Sky Beauty’s retirement.

Both Inside Information and Heavenly Prize ran during the Saratoga meet. The former saw her perfect record for the year go by the wayside after a stumbling start in the 7 furlong Ballerina Handicap. Spotting distance and weight (7 lb.) proved insurmountable as Inside Information was unable to catch the flying front runner, Classy Mirage, who won by 6 lengths. Heavenly Prize had better fortune at the Spa, running twice and coming away with two runaway victories. In the 9 furlong Go for Wand Handicap, the Phipps stable star under 123 lb. tucked back in fourth place in early going, and then put in a devastating rally around the 3/8 of mile pole to sweep to the lead around the stretch turn. At the finish, Heavenly Prize was 11 lengths in front of Forcing Bid (108 lb.). Racing next in the furlong longer John A. Morris Handicap with the weight now 127 lb., the daughter of Seeking the Gold put in another breathtaking surge to draw ahead by 8½ lengths. Forcing Bid (108 lb.) again was second, and Cinnamon Sugar (114 lb.) took third, another 2 lengths behind.

Back at Belmont, Inside Information shook off her loss in the Ballerina Handicap with an eye-opening 11 length victory under 125 lb. in the 8½ furlong Ruffian Handicap. On the same weekend both Inside Information and Heavenly Prize had their final prep races for the Distaff. The former, having started her four-year-old campaign at Keeneland, returned for the 9 furlong Spinster Stakes. The race started badly for the Dinny Phipps filly as she broke poorly in the four horse field. However, in a pulsating drive, Inside Information gained the victory by a head over Jade Flush whom she had beaten decisively in the Molly Pitcher and Ruffian Handicaps. Some observers were perplexed by Inside Information’s narrow win, but the hard effort served as a good tightener for the much more contentious Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

On the day before the Spinster, the 9 furlong Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park served as a meeting between the pro-tem leaders in both the sophomore and older female divisions on dirt. Heavenly Prize was the strong favorite over future Hall of Famer Serena’s Song. Also, entered was Lakeway who was making her third start after recovering from an illness suffered after her defeat (by Heavenly Prize) in last year’s Alabama Stakes. Any hopes in the Phipps camp that Lakeway would engage “Serena” early were dashed as the sophomore filly set a controlled pace under Gary Stevens. Coming into the stretch with a 4 length lead, Serena’s Song was able to confidently hold off Heavenly Prize’s rally by ¾ of a length. Finishing third, some 6¾ lengths behind, in a flat effort was Lakeway. With Serena’s Song, Heavenly Prize, Inside Information and Lakeway all headed for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, it loomed as one of the most anticipated contests on Breeders’ Cup Day.

In 1995, the Breeders’ Cup was contested on a sloppy Belmont track surface. In the Distaff, the Phipps stable packed a powerful 1–2 punch with Heavenly Prize and Inside Information, but Serena’s Song was having, if you ignore the presence of Cigar (who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic later that day), a Horse of the Year campaign. One near certainty was that the pace would be much faster than Serena’s Song enjoyed in the Beldame Stakes, given the presence of speedsters Mariah’s Storm, Bordislew and Inside Information.

At the start, somewhat surprisingly, Lakeway jumped out in front followed closely by Mariah’s Storm and Serena’s Song. Inside Information from her no. 1 post position broke behind the front runners, but soon after came up the vacated rail. Engaging the leaders after a ½ mile, Mike Smith on Inside Information let his filly roll and roll she did pulling away with ease from Lakeway, Serena’s Song and Mariah’s Storm around the long Belmont turn. Heavenly Prize was far back in the early going in ninth place until Pat Day asked her for her run on the far turn. She moved steadily up the rail; however, by the top of the stretch Heavenly Prize’s stable mate was long gone. In one of the most devastating performances in Breeders’ Cup history, Inside Information won by a record 13½ lengths. Heavenly Prize passed all in the stretch except her barn mate in finishing second by 2¼ lengths over Lakeway. Serena’s Song was the disappointment of the race in finishing fifth. The final time was a stakes record for the Distaff and within a second of Secretariat’s Belmont track record. For Shug McGaughey, this was another masterpiece of training in bringing his two fillies up to the race to finish first and second.

The Eclipse Award for Older Female was given to Inside Information who was retired to join the Phipps broodmare barn at Claiborne Farm. Heavenly Prize, who had now run in three consecutive Breeders’ Cups with two seconds and one third to show for her efforts, would race once more (in 1996), finishing third to Cigar in the Donn Handicap.

Her race record shows 18 starts, racing nearly always at the highest class with nine victories, six seconds and three thirds, earning over $1.8 million. As a broodmare, Heavenly Prize had eight named foals, seven of which were winners. The most accomplished was Good Reward, a son of Storm Cat who won major races on grass. His full brother Pure Prize was also a stakes winner, but achieved more success as a stallion, particularly in Argentina. A half sibling, Just Reward produced major winner Persistently.

Heavenly Prize was inducted into the National Racing Museum Hall of Fame in 2018, but her lasting impact may now be her relation to the third dam of Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo. That certainly can be deemed a “heavenly prize”.

 

Memories of Aqueduct Racetrack

 

Memories of Aqueduct Racetrack

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

Aqueduct Racetrack
(NYRA,com)

On June 28 of this year, Aqueduct Racetrack will close down permanently. Its demise is predicated by the building of a new Belmont Park and the increased use of Saratoga Racetrack by the New York Racing Association. Aqueduct located in Ozone Park, Queens, New York City, opened on September 14, 1959. (There was a previous Aqueduct Racetrack shut down in 1955, located near the conduit of the Brooklyn Waterworks, hence the moniker “Aqueduct”.) In 1959, this new structure, new and shiny in steel and concrete, was considered an enlightened venture in placing a horse racing plant within a major city’s limits. There was even a subway station adjacent to the track that New York City residents could use instead of driving on the Belt Parkway.

I share a personal history with the present Aqueduct Racetrack. The year 1959 was my first in being a committed follower of thoroughbred racing. At 11 years old, I was ushered into attending horse races in the New York area by my uncle Jimmy, a racetrack regular. We would meet at a subway stop in Brooklyn, N. Y. on the day he would invite me to join him and commute to the racetrack. In those days, minors such as myself, could not wager, but could attend the races accompanied by a responsible adult.

There was a ritual in each visit. We would find seats on the third level of the four-tiered Aqueduct grandstand, about one eighth of a mile from the finish line. The sight lines were fine, but when the wind blew in from Jamaica Bay, it could be chilly sitting in the open air. In addition, the track sat below the flight path for commercial airflight going to and from nearby Kennedy Airport, so there was frequent noise from above.

To secure our place, we would wind newsprint between the slats of our wooden seats. Uncle Jimmy, who always dressed formally in a suit, white shirt and tie, would treat me to a sitdown lunch in the track’s dining room. I remember having broiled trout with scalloped potatoes on more than one occasion. He kept his wagering choices to himself, but frequently asked my opinion on the chances of some horses he was considering betting on. On the ride home, as we transferred from one train to another, my uncle would always stop at an underground bakery shop and buy his wife, my Aunt Lucy, a cake. He did this regardless of whether he had a winning or losing day.   

Since my years in racing (now 67) coincide with the history of Aqueduct, I thought it was timely to reminisce about the major races that first fall at the new facility.

On opening day, September 14, 1959, some 42,000 patrons including New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller helped to inaugurate the “new” Aqueduct. It quickly was given the nickname “The Big A,” and at the time was considered the most modern and forward thinking racing facility in the country, with a paddock trackside so patrons could see the horses after they were saddled prior to the post parade. Its popularity was attested by in the early years it regularly drew over 50,000 people for its Saturday card.

The feature race on the track’s inaugural was the appropriately named Aqueduct Handicap. It was won by California raced, Indiana bred, Hillsdale who bested Bald Eagle in the one-mile contest. Considered a top older horse, Hillsdale, owned by Clarence Smith and trained by Martin Fallon Jr. remained in New York after his victory to face the previous year’s Horse of the Year Round Table and top three-year-old Sword Dancer in a memorable renewal of the Woodward Stakes.

Round Table, owned by Travis Kerr and trained by William Molter had become legendary for racing frequently, carrying excessive weights and being equally adept on dirt and grass surfaces (except for wet conditions). Brookmeade Stable’s Virginia bred Sword Dancer was also a hearty campaigner, after finishing second in both the Kentucky Derby (by a nose) and the Preakness Stakes, the chestnut son of Sunglow won the Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes, Metropolitan and Monmouth Handicaps, in the last two, defeating older foes.

The Woodward run on Saturday, September 26, at 1¼ mile at weight for age conditions was the race set to determine Horse-of-the Year honors. Only one horse, Inside Tract, was entered other than the “Big Three”.  There was a significant and eventful jockey switch. William Shoemaker who had assumed the mount on Sword Dancer after the Kentucky Derby, was also the regular rider on Round Table. He chose the five-year-old over the three-year-old. Sword Dancer’s trainer Elliot Burch contracted the veteran big race rider Eddie Arcaro to highlight the importance he attached to winning this race. Hillsdale’s connections showed remarkable restraint in retaining his regular rider, Tommy Barrow, who was hardly a household name in the racing world.

As a horse race, the Woodward Stakes was a thriller as witnessed by some 53,000 on track. As often in a small field there was race riding that may have determined the outcome. Hillsdale went to the front and set a leisurely pace with Round Table a close second. Inside Track and Sword Dancer traded places for third and fourth with the three-year-old saving ground on the inside. As the field entered the stretch, Sword Dancer seemed trapped on the rail as Hillsdale was fighting off Round Table’s bid. It appeared that Barrow aboard Hillsdale was so intent on beating Round Table that he allowed his mount to drift off the rail just sufficient to allow Arcaro to slip Sword Dancer through and in a desperate finish win by a head.  Round Table was a clearly beaten third. 

Sword Dancer (on right) winning the 1959 Woodward Stakes

That was the only meeting among these three equine stars. Hillsdale was retired after the Woodward.  Sword Dancer and Round Table would face each other one more time in the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup at Aqueduct which the former won by 7 lengths on a sloppy race surface. In the end of the year awards Sword Dancer was voted Three-Year-Old Champion and Horse of the Year and Round Table was Champion Male Older Horse and Turf Champion.

My first attendance at Aqueduct was on Saturday, October 17, 1959. The feature was the 88^th renewal of the one mile Champagne Stakes, the premier race in New York for two-year-olds. It was the seventh race on the nine race program. The weather was cool and the track was labeled fast. The Champagne’s total purse, some $230,000, made it the richest race in New York. In the 10 horse field were just about all the major juveniles of that year. The pro tem leader was C. V. Whitney’s striking brown colt Tompion who after close finishes in California and New York had won the 7 furlong Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack. Also in the field were East Coast campaigners Bally Ache and Vital Force who faced each other several times during the year. Another West Coast invader was Warfare, a hulking coal-gray son of 1954 Kentucky Derby winner Determine owned by Bellehurst Stable and trained by veteran conditioner Hack Ross. He, like Tompion, had found California racing too quick and the distances too short, his best race a good finishing third in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship to Noble Noor and Tompion. After a second place finish in an allowance race at 6½ furlongs at Aqueduct, Warfare would not taste defeat as the distances stretched out. In the 7 furlong Cowdin Stakes, prime prep for the Champagne Stakes, he decisively defeated Vital Force, Bally Ache and Tompion.

In looking at the past performances of the contestants, it is astounding how many races these juveniles had participated in prior to the Champagne. Tompion had run 10 times (he would race two more times in 1959), Bally Ache had run 14 times (two more), Vital Force 12 times (once more) and Warfare 12 times (two more). Note the variance with the current scarcity of starts in top two-year-olds, where anything more than three starts is considered a heavy campaign.

As I recall, there was some change in equipment and tactics on two of the contenders. Tompion was outfitted with blinkers so that he would be more forwardly placed, and Bally Ache, a noted front runner, was held back to conserve his finishing ability. Tompion, indeed showed more early speed, contending with Four Lane for the early lead. Warfare, ridden by Ismael Valenzuela, was content to sit just off the leaders in third, and Bally Ache after a quick beginning was throttled back in fourth place. At the top of the stretch, Valenzuela asked Warfare for run and the son of Determine readily went up to challenge the leaders. Warfare and Tompion battled down the stretch with the former prevailing by a length. Bally Ache finished third, 5½ lengths further back after an unsuccessful attempt at rating. Four Lane was fourth and Vital Force finished 10^th and last. The time for the one mile contest was a track record for the one month old facility.

Warfare at Garden State Park
(Horse Racing Legends)

Warfare would go on to win the 1 1/16 mile Garden State Stakes in New Jersey, solidifying his Two-Year-Old Championship. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury early in his sophomore year, precluding any Triple Crown hopes and was subsequently retired to stud. Of the others, Bally Ache (a favorite of mine) was the highest achiever, finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, but winning the Flamingo Stakes, Florida Derby, Preakness and Jersey Derby. After incurring an injury suffered in the fall, Bally Ache was retired but soon after contracted an internal ailment that led to his death. Tompion after winning the Santa Anita Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes finished fourth as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. He would go on later in the year to win the Travers Stakes and be a sturdy campaigner through age four.

Through the years, I recall being at Aqueduct seeing such great horses as Kelso, Buckpasser, Damascus, and Dr. Fager (in the 1960s); Secretariat, Forego and Ruffian (in the 1970s). It was a utilitarian racetrack, built not for beauty, but as a convenient venue for fans to see top class thoroughbred racing. For all the history and memories it provided me, I bid The Big A a fond farewell.

The Triumph and Tragedy of Barbaro

 

The Triumph and Tragedy of Barbaro

Joseph Di Rienzi

Barbaro winning the 2006 Kentucky Derby
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

It’s been almost 20 years since I stood in the infield at Churchill Downs among the tee-shirted fans and inebriated college students on Derby Day 2006. My whole Kentucky Derby experience was surreal. It started boarding the plane in Baltimore where I noted the number of hat boxes ladies were storing in the overhead compartments. Met at the Louisville airport by my friend Peter, who with his wife Margaret, live about 25 miles away in Mt. Washington, we drove to Churchill Downs on Derby Eve to see the Kentucky Oaks. There Peter placed a wager on behalf of Margaret, her first ever, on Lemons Forever who won at odds 47-1, the longest priced heroine in Oaks history.

On Derby Day, Margaret dropped Peter and I off outside the gates of Churchill Downs where we bought infield tickets. I have been to major thoroughbred races throughout the United States and other countries, but I have never experienced the excitement I encountered attending the Derby in person. The sensation of standing in the middle of the racetrack when the horses competing in the Run for the Roses came on to the track as the band played, Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home” was very emotional. I had a strong preference in the Derby for Barbaro. Little did I know his triumph in the race would be a prelude to tragedy just two weeks later. Here are my recollections.

Home bred by Gretchen and Roy Jackson’s Lael Stables, Barbaro was a powerfully built dark bay or brown son of Dynaformer who under trainer Michael Matz’s care debuted in a one mile maiden grass race at Delaware Park in early October 2005 and won easily by 8½ lengths. Running next in November in the Laurel Futurity, he burst free down the stretch with enormous strides to win by 8 lengths in fast final time for the 8½ furlong contest.

Michael Matz was already contemplating trying his colt on dirt when he said after the Laurel Futurity, “This horse makes me shiver when I see him work on the dirt.” (The Blood Horse, November 26, 2005, pg. 6861.) Notwithstanding that last statement, Barbaro did run once more on turf winning on January 1, 2006 the 9 furlong Tropical Park Derby by 3¾ lengths at Calder Racecourse. In all his races the son of Dynaformer showed good positional speed and then, when called upon, produced an electrifying turn of foot. 

Barbaro had his much anticipated dirt debut in the Holy Bull Stakes run in 2005 at 9 furlongs at Gulfstream Park’s reconfigured track. Racing on a sloppy surface, Edgar Prado sat Barbaro just off the early pace, took the lead in the stretch and held off longshot Great Point’s rally for a measured ¾ of a length victory. With Michael Matz wanting more time between races for his colt, Barbaro skipped the Fountain of Youth Stakes to await the Florida Derby.

Barbaro was the favorite in the 11 horse Florida Derby field with Flashy Bull the second choice. Considering this was his first race on a dry dirt surface, and Barbaro was breaking from the no. 10 post position, there were doubts about his ability to win. Sharp Humor set the pace with Barbaro holding second place just a length behind. Moving to the leader around the final turn, Barbaro needed the whole stretch to prevail, besting a very game Sharp Humor by a ½ length. Some observers were not impressed with Barbaro’s performance citing the narrow margin over a horse considered a sprinter, and the fact he did not exhibit the powerful acceleration previously displayed on grass. However, the final time for the 9 furlong Florida Derby was faster than older stakes-class horses ran the same distance in the co-featured Skip Away Handicap earlier in the day.

In the aftermath, Michael Matz announced he would train Barbaro up to the Derby, foregoing any other prep race, attempting to be the first horse since Needles in 1956 to win the Kentucky Derby off a five week layoff.

The 132^nd Kentucky Derby seemed to have everything. There were two undefeated horses - Barbaro and Showing Up, both owned by Lael Stables, although separately trained by Michael Matz and Barclay Tagg, respectively. (Showing Up was a late addition having won the Lexington Stakes in only his third lifetime start.) Brother Derek, Point Determined, and A. P. Warrior represented the Santa Anita Derby form with Bob and John, Jazil, and Keyed Entry the first three across the finish in the Wood Memorial Stakes. Lawyer Ron brought a six race win streak to the Derby, and he was joined by his three time Oaklawn Park pursuer in Lawana and Robert Low’s Steppenwolfer. Pre-race analysis seemed to favor Brother Derek and Lawyer Ron, but there was growing support for Barbaro, particularly after people observed his powerful ½ mile breeze a week before the Derby. (That the Kentucky Derby winner would announce himself through his final blowout would become a pattern in future years.)

Despite the achievements of the aforementioned, the surprising favorite for the Kentucky Derby was Sweetnorthernsaint, a gelded son of Sweetsouthernsaint, who had won the Illinois Derby by 9¼ lengths. Trained in Maryland by Michael Trombetta Jr., he previously had won a minor stakes race at Laurel Racetrack and had finished a closing third in the Gotham Stakes. My belief at the time was the Derby was Barbaro’s to lose. If he broke well and secured a good stalking position in the clear, no one would outrun him in the last ¼ mile.

With several of the 20 contestants in the year’s Kentucky Derby possessing early speed, there was a rapid rush to the clubhouse turn. Keyed Entry and Sinister Minister fought for the lead, but right behind the leading pair were the Lael Stables’ duo, Showing Up on the inside and Barbaro to his outside. Edgar Prado had Barbaro in the perfect stalking position, and, though it may be presumptuous to say this, I believed as an eye witness that the race was effectively over as soon as the field straightened out down the backstretch. Barbaro, without any encouragement from Prado, loomed up on the outside around the far turn and gained the lead at the top of the straight. Once in the stretch, the son of Dynaformer bounded clear with his ground devouring strides and coasted to an emphatic 6½ length victory, one of the most impressive Kentucky Derby performances in my lifetime. Finishing second was Bluegrass Cat who finished 2 lengths clear of rallying Steppenwolfer. Finishing in a dead heat for fourth place was Brother Derek and Jazil, with the latter closing from 20^th place. Sweetnorthernsaint made a run on the inside down the backstretch, but faltered down the stretch finishing seventh, and Lawyer Ron was 12^th. The final time was strong, and Barbaro’s final ¼ mile was run in an outstanding 24 2/5 seconds.

Barbaro’s owners, Gretchen and Roy Jackson, had a day of days. Not only did they win the Kentucky Derby with their homebred, but earlier they watched on a monitor George Washington, a horse they also bred and then sold to the Coolmore partnership, win the English 2000 Guineas Stakes. Barbaro was bred in Kentucky, but he was raised at the Jackson’s Lael Farm in Pennsylvania, continuing the classic success enjoyed previously by Pennsylvania based Smarty Jones and Afleet Alex. Trainer Michael Matz, a Silver Medalist on the U. S. Olympic Equestrian Team in 1996, was also carrying a tradition of transferring show jumping expertise into thoroughbred racing. For Edgar Prado, this was his first Derby win after six previous attempts. The big winner of the day appeared to be the U. S. thoroughbred racing public who embraced wholeheartedly the new superstar they saw in Barbaro.

With his spectacular Kentucky Derby win behind him, the only question concerning Barbaro’s chances in the Preakness Stakes appeared to be the short two week turn around, something that trainer Michael Matz had been avoiding in spacing his colt’s campaign. As a testimony to Barbaro’s dominating Derby victory only Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint returned to face him. Of the other six opponents, only one seemed with a chance. He was Darley Stable’s Bernardini, a beautifully sculpted bay son of A. P. Indy from the top class race mare Cara Rafaela. Unraced at two, he finished fourth in his first start at Gulfstream Park in January. Bernardini then won two races at a mile: a maiden race at Gulfstream in May and the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct in late April. In both these races, he showed good early pace and the ability to finish strongly, drawing away both times. Still, Barbaro was the overwhelming favorite to move one step closer to the Triple Crown.

The 2006 Preakness is remembered for what happened just after the start. Instead of witnessing a day of glory, all viewers saw a catastrophe of the same magnitude as when Ruffian broke down in her match race with Foolish Pleasure in 1975. Barbaro, when first loaded in the starting gate broke through, causing a false start which is never a good sign. Horse and jockey were retrieved by the outrider, examined and allowed to re-load. When the field broke from the starting gate, Edgar Prado heard a loud cracking noise soon after and tried to pull Barbaro up. By the time the horse came to a stop it was clear he had severely broke his right hind ankle. The horrific injury was right in front of the Pimlico Racetrack clubhouse stands for all to see. Almost all interest in the race was moot as the perils of this magnificent horse became the focus. (For the record, Bernardini was a dominant winner.)

Barbaro was placed in a van and transported to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, PA where emergency surgery was performed. He was saved from his injury, but during his long convalescence followed by millions of people across the world Barbaro developed laminitis which eventually caused him to be euthanized on January 29, 2007.

Such are the vicissitudes of thoroughbred racing. Here we had a horse in Barbaro, undefeated and seemingly on the doorstep of winning the Triple Crown, only to be struck down by a freak accident. However, his magnificent Derby victory and courageous fight against the odds have afforded Barbaro a permanent place in horse racing history. I know I will always cherish the memory of seeing him draw clear from his Derby rivals as he raced majestically down the Churchill Downs homestretch.