LOUISVILLE – Blowing the doors off what was supposed to be the most competitive Kentucky Derby in history, unbeaten Barbaro took the lead under Edgar Prado around the far turn and galloped away to win yesterday’s 132nd Run for the Roses by 6½ lengths, one of the largest margins in Derby history.
Barbaro paid $14.20 as the second betting choice in the full field of 20, with Sweetnorthernsaint favored at 5-1. Bluegrass Cat finished second at 28-1, with 14-1 Steppenwolfer third. The final time for the mile-and-a-quarter was an excellent 2:01.1.
Trained by first-time Derby trainer Michael Matz, an Olympic-medal winning horseman who rescued several children from a horrific airline crash they survived in 1989, Barbaro ran his record to 6-for-6. Barbaro not only ran away with the race, he became the first horse in 50 years to win the Derby off a layoff of five weeks, having won the Florida Derby last out on April 1.
Barbaro, owned and bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables, began his career winning his first three races on turf. In his two preps prior to the Derby, he switched over to dirt to win the Holy Bull and Florida Derby.
The victory was Prado’s first in the Derby from seven mounts. He gave the strapping son of Dynaformer a perfect ride, taking back off a quick pace set by Keyed Entry, kept him out of trouble in the crowded field and won with plenty left for Barbaro’s next assignment, the Preakness two weeks away, which could be his next step toward a sweep of the Triple Crown.
While most of the cream of this year’s 3-year-olds made it to the Derby intact – Brother Derek, Barbaro and Lawyer Ron had combined to win their last 15 starts – there were a couple of notable defections, beginning with last year’s 2-year-old champion, Stevie Wonderboy.
Owned by television legend Merv Griffin, Stevie Wonderboy clinched his championship with a late-charging score in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last October at Belmont Park. But after finishing second to Brother Derek in the Jan. 14 San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita making his first start at 3, Stevie Wonderboy suffered a hairline fracture of the right front ankle that knocked him off the Triple Crown trail.
That kept alive the long streak of 2-year-old champions not winning the Kentucky Derby; the last to do it was Spectacular Bid in 1979. In fact, Stevie Wonderboy was simply the latest victim of the “Breeders’ Cup Jinx.”
Beginning with Chief’s Crown, who took home the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Hollywood Park in 1984, not one winner of that race has won the Derby. Of the 22 BC Juvenile champs, the best finishes in the Run for the Roses were third-place efforts by Chief’s Crown and Timber Country, the latter in 1995. Of the remaining 20, 11 finished out of the money in the Derby; the other nine did not even make it to the big dance.
Stevie Wonderboy was not the only victim of the Breeders’ Cup Jinx from this crop of colts. Henny Hughes, who finished second to Stevie Wonderboy, was sent to Dubai, where his owner, Sheikh Mohammed, trains his expensive stable over the winter, and hasn’t been heard from since.
First Samurai, third as the heavy favorite in last year’s BC Juvenile, almost made it to the Derby. As a 3-year-old, he finished second to Keyed Entry in the Feb. 4 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park, then was second in the March 4 Fountain of Youth but was moved up to the top spot upon the disqualification of Corinthian.
In his final prep, however, the April 15 Blue Grass at Keeneland, First Samurai struggled home a well-beaten fifth behind runaway Sinister Minister. He came out of that race with cracked ribs, likely suffered by hitting the starting gate.
Corinthian, who rallied to finish first in the Fountain of Youth but lugged in, then out down the stretch, fouling First Samurai, also suffered an injury that kept him out of the classics.
Another colt many thought had a huge shot didn’t make it into this year’s Derby, but it wasn’t because he was hurt. Sunriver, trained by Todd Pletcher, showed a strong closing kick to finish third behind Barbaro and Sharp Humor in the Florida Derby.
