HBO has quietly begun production on a full-scale movie about Barbaro, the super-horse that won the Kentucky Derby last year only to break down in the Preakness two weeks later.

The movie will be a documentary about the horse that captured so much attention during its courageous, eight-month battle to come back from the disastrous injury.

Broadcasting & Cable reported the movie will likely air in early June, during the Triple Crown season.

It will have to compete for attention with another horse-racing movie slated to come out around the same time, an ESPN dramatization of the Ruffian tragedy.

Ruffian was an undefeated filly who broke down during a “battle of the sexes” match race against Foolish Pleasure at Belmont Park in 1975.