Barbaro wins in a breeze

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — He made it look so easy.

In a wide-open race that should have been a demanding struggle, in a stampede of 20 horses Saturday at Churchill Downs that left many staggering toward the finish, Lael Stable's Barbaro cruised to one of the most lopsided victories in Kentucky Derby history.

Barbaro was everything he was supposed to be — and so much more.

Taking the lead entering the stretch under jockey Edgar Prado, Barbaro became the sixth undefeated horse in 132 years to win the Derby by galloping home effortlessly by 6 1/2 lengths over Bluegrass Cat. Steppenwolfer finished third while Jazil and Brother Derek finished in a dead heat in fourth.

Trained by Michael Matz, a 1996 silver medalist as an Olympic equestrian, Barbaro covered the 1 1/4 mile in 2:01.36 before a crowd of 157,536. The Kentucky-bred son of Dynaformer, owned and bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, is undefeated in six starts and will now attempt to become the first undefeated horse to win the Derby and Preakness (May 20) since Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew in 1977.

"I got the feeling that we have (the) potential that maybe we can win the Triple Crown this year," Prado said.

Roy Jackson, who earlier in the day watched George Washington, a horse he and his wife bred, win the European classic 2,000 Guineas, said: "This is a dream come true. Everyone dreams of winning the Kentucky Derby."

But no one would ever envision it being this easy. Not only did the Florida Derby winner become the first horse in 50 years to win the Derby off a five-week layoff, but his margin of victory was the greatest since Triple Crown winner Assault in 1946.

"It looked like he did it easy," said Matz, who started Barbaro's 3-year-old season with a victory Jan. 1 at Calder Race Course across the turf in the Tropical Park Derby. "Edgar didn't have to get after him."

In fact, Prado never laid his whip to Barbaro. Yes, it was that easy.

Despite stumbling slightly leaving the gate, Barbaro recovered quickly and Prado found himself in a perfect spot entering the first turn, just a few lengths behind the pacesetters Keyed Entry and Sinister Minister.

While Keyed Entry set early fractions of :22.63 and :46.07 as Prado sat comfortably aboard Barbaro five lengths off the lead, morning-line favorite Brother Derek was bumped and wide going down the backstretch while Arkansas Derby winner Lawyer Ron was far back.

But Barbaro, who never had dirt in his face and never raced worse than second in his previous five starts, was cruising under Prado. Around the final turn, with Barbaro tugging, Prado allowed Barbaro to begin his move. He galloped around stablemate Showing Up and Illinois Derby winner Sweetnorthernsaint entering the far turn. Then, just as this field was about to enter the stretch, Barbaro took the lead from Sinister Minister and shot to the front.

Prado waved his whip at the colt but there was no reason to reach back and ask for anything more. The winner was in front by two, four, five ...

He could have won by as many as he pleased.

"At that point I was thinking, 'Just don't fall down,' " Matz said.

While Barbaro galloped under the wire, Showing Up checked in sixth and Sweetnorthernsaint seventh. Back further were Santa Anita Derby runner-up Point Determined (ninth), Lawyer Ron (12th), Wood Memorial winner Bob and John (17th) and Florida Derby runner-up Sharp Humor (19th).

Matz, who survived the 1989 crash of United Airlines Flight 232 in Iowa, which killed 111, and was the U.S. flagbearer for the closing ceremony at the 1996 Atlanta Games, will now try to prepare Barbaro for the 13/16-mile Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore.

When asked if coming back to race in two weeks would be too much for a colt who has raced only twice in 12 weeks, Matz said, "Now the table has turned, hasn't it?

"That's what we were planning for with the five weeks' rest," Matz said. "I don't think it will be a problem, but we'll have to wait and see."

The Kentucky Derby

Top 3

Horse Payout

1. Barbaro $14.20 $8 $6

2. Bluegrass Cat $28.40 $15.40

3. Steppenwolfer $7.80

Full results / C13