MET MILE NEXT FOR BANDINI HEADLINE p4 NEWS For information about TDN, DELIVERED EACH NIGHT BY FAX AND FREE BY E-MAIL TO SUBSCRIBERS OF call 732-747-8060. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2006 BARBARO RULES THE DAY Turf a Logical Starting Point... Lael Stables’ homebred Barbaro (Dynaformer) had By the noted turf sire Dynaformer and out of a mare some questions to answer in yesterday’s GI Florida who was twice graded-stakes placed on the grass, Derby. Could he handle a fast main track? Could he Barbaro began his career on the green stuff, winning his overcome a wide draw? Could he head to Louisville a maiden by 8 1/2 lengths at Delaware Oct. 14, the Lau- perfect five-for-five? How rel Futurity by eight Nov. 19 and the Jan. 1 GIII Tropi- about a two-month hiatus? cal Park Derby by 3 3/4 lengths at Calder. After mulling Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes. The over his options, Matz decided to see if his charge well-built dark bay hounded belonged on the Triple Crown trail and Barbaro gave pacesetting Sharp Humor (Dis- him the answer he was looking for, taking a sloppy torted Humor), last-out winner renewal of the GIII Holy Bull S. by 3/4 of a length Feb. of the GII Swale S., through 4. reasonable fractions and willed himself to the line, defeating An Unorthodox Preparation... the hard-knocking New York- Given two months off ahead of this, Matz opened himself to criticism, but, yesterday, let the horse do the Co-owner Roy Jackson and bred by a half-length. “I think talking. Away in a bit of a tangle, Barbaro bumped Barbaro Equi-Photo he’s a good horse,” said win- ning trainer Michael Matz, in slightly with Charming Image (Halo’s Image), but recov- easily the biggest understatement of the millennium. As ered and raced just outside of Sharp Humor, who got for the immediate future, “We’ll keep him here about a an opening quarter in week or so, and then probably go to Keeneland, proba- :23.45 and a half in bly work once there, and then go to Churchill :47.35. The two raced [Downs].” nearly inseparably through the next two Saturday, Gulfstream Park furlongs in :24.02 and FLORIDA DERBY-GI, $1,000,000, GPX, 4-1, 3yo, had it to themselves as 1 1/8m, 1:49, ft. the quarter pole loomed. 1--sBARBARO, 122, c, 3, by Dynaformer For a second, it looked 1st Dam: La Ville Rouge (MGSP, $262,594), by Carson City as if Sharp Humor 2nd Dam: La Reine Rouge, by King's Bishop Barbaro (second from right) ready to would outstay the fa- 3rd Dam: Silver Betsy, by Nearctic pounce on Sharp Humor (rail) Equi-Photo vorite, but Barbaro kept O-Lael Stables; B-Mr & Mrs M Roy Jackson (KY); to his work and was T-Michael R Matz; J-E S Prado; $600,000. Lifetime along in the final strides. “I saw Sharp Humor break Record: 5-5-0-0, $849,000. *1/2 to Holy Ground sharp, so I just followed him,” said winning rider Edgar (Saint Ballado), SW. Prado. “He [Barbaro] was pretty much in control of the 2--Sharp Humor, 122, c, 3, Distorted Humor--Bellona, race. So far this is my Derby horse. We’ll see how he by Hansel. O-Purdedel Stable; B-Patricia S Purdy (NY); comes back over the next couple of days and make a T-Dale Romans; $190,000. decision from there.” Prado had previously ridden First 3--Sunriver, 122, c, 3, Saint Ballado--Goulash, by Mari’s Samurai and is expected to pilot Strong Contender in Book. O/B-Aaron U & Marie D Jones (KY); T-Todd A the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 15. Also expected to Pletcher; $100,000. go on to the Derby are Sunriver (Saint Ballado) and Margins: HF, 3, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.60, 6.40, 4.30. seventh-place finisher Flashy Bull (Holy Bull). Also Ran: Sam’s Ace, Hesanoldsalt, High Blues, Flashy Click for the brisnet.com chart or the free brisnet.com Bull, Charming Image, Saint Augustus, Doc Cheney, catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Taylor Rehoboth. Made. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 4/2/06 • PAGE 2 of 8 Saturday, Gulfstream Park P R E S U L T S P ORCHID H.-GIII, $150,000, GPX, 4-1, 3yo/up, f/m, Saturday, Aqueduct 1 1/2mT, 2:23 (NCR), fm. EXCELSIOR BREEDERS' CUP H.-GIII, $151,900, AQU, 1--HONEY RYDER, 120, m, 5, by Lasting Approval 4-1, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48 1/5, ft. 1st Dam: Cuando Quiere, by Affirmed 1--WEST VIRGINIA, 115, h, 5, by Tomorrows Cat 2nd Dam: Quatre Saisons, by Court Recess 1st Dam: Wild and Wonderful, by Kennedy Road 3rd Dam: Alpine Peak, by Olympia 2nd Dam: *Pacara, by *Dorileo ($70,000 yrl '02 WIMJUL). O-Glencrest Farm LLC; 3rd Dam: Piaf, by *Gric B-Wimborne Farm, Inc (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; O/B-Donald & R Mary Zuckerman, as Tenants by the J-J R Velazquez; $90,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, Entireties (NY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-N Arroyo; 22-9-1-7, $1,155,809. *1/2 to Cuando Puede (Lord $67,140. Lifetime Record: 22-7-5-1, $749,846. at War {Arg}), GSW, $199,973; Cuando (Lord at 2--Funny Cide, 115, g, 6, Distorted Humor--Belle's War {Arg}), MSW & MGSP, $329,967; Cuanto Es Good Cide, by Slewacide. ($22,000 yrl '01 FTNAUG). (Exbourne), GSP, $255,239. O-Sackatoga Stable; B-Win Star Farm LLC (NY); 2--Olaya, 118, f, 4, Theatrical (Ire)--Solaia, by Miswaki. T-Barclay Tagg; $42,380. O-Prince Faisal Salman; B-Belgrave Bloodstock (KY); T-H G Motion; $30,000. 3--Colita, 114, h, 6, Grindstone--All Sweets, by 3--Noble Stella (Ger), 116, m, 5, Monsun (Ger)--Noble Dixieland Band. ($50,000 yrl '01 KEESEP; $15,000 Pearl (Ger), by Dashing Blade. ( 61,000 yrl ‘02 2yo 2002 FTFFEB). O-Team Valor Stables LLC; i BBANOV). O-Gary A Tanaka; B-Gestut Etzean (GER); B-Charles Nuckols Jr & Sons (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; T-Roger L Attfield; $16,500. $21,190. Margins: 4, 2, 1HF. Odds: 1.00, 3.80, 5.80. Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 7.70, 4.50, 2.85. Also Ran: Dynamite Lass, Asti (Ire), Potra Clasica (Arg), Also Ran: Liquor Cabinet (Ire), Evening Attire, Kate Winslet, Pretty Jane. Watchmon, Your Bluffing, Go Now, Infinite Glory. Honey Ryder proved that she will be a force to be West Virginia rallied from midpack to account for a reckoned with in the Turf Distaff division with a com- game Funny Cide. Winner of the GIII Iselin BC H. at prehensive victory here. The defending champion of Monmouth last August, the dark bay was fifth in the this event, the gray added scores in the Robert G. Dick sloppy Empire Classic at Belmont Oct. 22 and second BC H. at Delaware July 16 and the GIII Glens Falls H. at by a neck in this track’s GIII Stuyvesant H. and GIII Saratoga Sept. 5. She earned a valuable Grade I suc- Queens County H. Nov. 19 and Dec. 10, respectively. cess in the E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine Oct. 23, but Fourth to Brass Hat in the GII New Orleans H. at Louisi- was likely in need of the run when third in the GIII ana Downs Jan. 7, he failed to handle the wet track Honey Fox H. over an insufficient 8 1/2 furlongs Mar. again when fifth to that rival in the GI Donn H. at 4. Allowed to lope along towards the back of the pack, Gulfstream Feb. 4. Rated in center field for the opening Honey Ryder eased out four wide approaching the final half-mile, West Virginia rallied wide on the turn, took turn, advanced in hand at the quarter pole and won as command approaching the eighth pole and edged clear. much the best. “I think this is probably the best race “He ran better today than any other time I’ve ridden she’s ever run, which is saying a lot because she’s him,” said winning rider Norberto Arroyo Jr. “The pace been such a very good, consistent mare,” commented was quick, which was good for us. Sometimes, when winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “We’ll take a look at the he gets to the last horse, he likes to wait. But today, he [GIII] Bewitch [S. Apr. 26] at Keeneland and play it from just went right by.” Click for the brisnet.com chart. there.” Click for the brisnet.com chart. Video, spon- Video, sponsored by Taylor Made. sored by Taylor Made. www.stonewallstallions.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 4/2/06 • PAGE 3 of 8 Saturday, Gulfstream Park Saturday, Santa Anita PAN AMERICAN H.-GIII, $150,000, GPX, 4-1, 3yo/up, TOKYO CITY H.-GIII, $110,600, SAX, 4-1, 4yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:24 1/5, fm. 1 1/8m, 1:48, ft. 1--@#SILVER WHISTLE, 115, c, 4, by Alphabet Soup 1--PREACHINATTHEBAR, 116, h, 5, by Silver Charm 1st Dam: Polish Polka (SW), by Polish Numbers 1st Dam: Holy Nola (SW, $216,812), 2nd Dam: Double Bunctious, by Spring Double by Silver Deputy 3rd Dam: Barbara Bunctious, by Rambunctious 2nd Dam: Shrewd Vixen, by Spectacular Bid O-Stronach Stables; B-Adena Springs (KY); T-William 3rd Dam: Theia (Fr), by Caro (Ire) I Mott; J-E S Prado; $90,000.