Barbaro does not have wings, but opposing trainers have somehow turned him into a modern Pegasus.
Only eight rivals will face the Kentucky Derby winner in Saturday’s 131st Preakness Stakes at Pimlico — the second fewest in 15 years. Barbaro finished the final quarter mile of the Derby in the fastest time since Secretariat’s 1973 domination and industry rivals have annointed him as the next Triple Crown champion.
Don’t believe the hype. Barbaro is beatable. Very beatable.
Now Barbaro is not some fluke Derby winner like last year’s Giacomo, who never won again before retiring months later. Barbaro was a legit 6-1 contender who delivered a standout performance. With three victories on grass and three on dirt, he’s an extraordinary colt who could go on to do some great things if the breeding shed doesn’t lure him too soon.
But a superhorse? Let’s wait until Saturday before slipping on a golden bridle. If Barbaro beats Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint again in a fair race devoid of heavy traffic that compromised the latter two in the Derby, then Barbaro has the breeding to win the Belmont Stakes on June 10. The sport’s 28-year drought since Affirmed swept the spring classics will end.
This going to be a smart, tactical race, though. There are three horses very capable of beating each other just like 1997 when Silver Charm outlasted Captain Bodgit and Free House in the final yards.
“I don’t want to insinuate that the horses that beat us aren’t as good, but I feel it will be a truer race,” said Brother Derek trainer Dan Hendricks. “I will not be going nine-wide in the stretch and have the adversity that you have in a 20-horse field. Same goes for Sweetnorthernsaint, which makes for a great race.”
Sweetnorthernsaint trainer Mike Trombetta feels the same way. The native Baltimorean has some home-course advantage after getting sandwiched so often in Louisville that Subway should have been on the jockey’s silks. The Laurel Park colt may be a notch below the big colts, but can still win one for the boys in Parkville.
“I’ve got all the confidence in the world in my horse,” Trombetta said. “Any horse can be beat, but it’s going to be hard work to beat [Barbaro]. Right now we are all gunning for Mike Matz’s [Barbaro]. I certainly relish the opportunity to not have so much traffic and hopefully get a fairer shake at this thing. Neither Brother Derek nor us got the best of shakes [in the Derby]. I’m sure we both would love another crack at it.”
It is astonishing how far the Preakness has dropped below the Derby. Only three continue on the Triple Crown trail while Derby runner up Bluegrass Cat and third-place Steppenwolfer skipped the middle jewel. It’s one thing for the Hollywood celebs to bypass the Preakness after partying at the Derby, it’s another for the top tier of racing to look elsewhere. The Derby filled its starting gate while the Preakness has the whole outside section free.
Get past the three Derby runners and you’re wondering whether trainer Nick Zito can repeat his 1996 Preakness shocker of Louis Quatorze with current pretender Hemingway’s Key. That colt has been buried alive more than David Blaine. Maybe owner George Steinbrenner threatened the cruelest cut of all if the colt didn’t run better this time.
There is no local threat like Scrappy T finishing second last year. No longshot to wheel in your triples. This is a three-horse race following Barbaro’s runaway Derby triumph. The hard part is any of the trio could win.
Barbaro may prove the best against a thin field. Brother Derek or Sweetnorthernsaint could gain redemption. Either way, it figures to be a short-priced exacta.
Preakness field
The field for Saturday’s 131st Preakness Stakes, with post position, horse’s name, jockey’s name and odds:
1. Like Now Gomez 12-1
2. Platinum Couple Espinoza 50-1
3. Hemingway’s Key Rose 30-1
4. Greeley’s Legacy Migliore 20-1
5. Brother Derek Solis 3-1
6. Barbaro Prado Even
7. Sweetnorthernsaint Desormeaux 4-1
8. Bernardini Castellano 8-1
9. Diabolical Dominguez 30-1
Trainers (by post position): 1, Kiaran McLaughlin. 2, Joe Lostritto. 3, Nick Zito. 4, George Weaver. 5, Dan Hendricks. 6, Michael Matz. 7, Mike Trombetta. 8, Tom Albertrani. 9, Steve Klesaris.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
