NEWS
Triple Crown trail: Jacksons living a dream with Barbaro
Posted: Monday, April 03, 2006
Roy and Gretchen Jackson have bred and raced Thoroughbreds for more than 25 years with a goal of winning a Grade 1 race. Like most realistic people involved in racing, winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) has been more of a dream than an objective.
With Barbaro's triumph on April 1 in the Florida Derby (G1), the Jacksons achieved their goal, and they are one win away from realizing that dream.
"Saturday was great, and doing it with one we bred made it even better," Roy Jackson said on Monday. "Now you start to think [about the Derby]. It would be a real thrill even to get there, so this is very exciting."
The Jacksons, who race as Lael Stables, will be at Churchill Downs with a potential favorite after Barbaro remained unbeaten with a half-length win over Sharp Humor in the Florida Derby. The son of Dynaformer overcame the second-widest post in a field of 11 with deft guidance from jockey Edgar Prado.
"Edgar rode him just beautifully, and the horse just does what he has to do," trainer Michael Matz said on Monday morning. "He galloped out great—his ears were pricked, and it was beautiful to see in the replay. It looked like he was just looking for more. That was the first time a horse really fought with him, so I thought he'd come back here dead tired, but he ate everything up that night and he's in the feed tub right now."
Matz said Barbaro appeared to slip slightly coming out of the gate and at the top of the stretch. The Florida Derby was the colt's first start over a fast track.
"But he recovered quickly and did what he needed to do," Matz said. "What more can you ask for?"
Barbaro still figures to be the subject of skepticism leading up to the Kentucky Derby due to his unusual race schedule. The Florida Derby was his first start in two months, and he will have five more weeks off before the Kentucky Derby.
Matz plans to ship Barbaro in a week or two from Palm Meadows Training Center to Keeneland Race Course, where the Maryland-based conditioner will monitor the colt while he runs a small string of horses at the Lexington track. Barbaro will move over to Churchill Downs about a week before the Derby on May 6.
Trainer Dale Romans will ship Sharp Humor to Churchill on Tuesday to prepare for the Derby. The New York-bred son of Distorted Humor set the pace in the Florida Derby and fought gamely in the stretch while making his first start around two turns.
Sharp Humor won the seven-furlong Swale Stakes (G2) in his previous start on March 4 at Gulfstream.
"I thought he ran as good as he could have," Romans said. "I think he'll be able to improve off his first start around two turns."
Sunriver, who finished third in the Florida Derby, also will proceed to the Kentucky Derby, as will Flashy Bull, who finished a dull seventh as the 4-to-1 second choice.
Owner Mike Pegram said he would "sit back and be a spectator" for a few weeks before deciding whether to head to Churchill with Wanna Runner, who scored by 4 3/4 lengths in the $600,000 WinStar Derby on April 1 at Sunland Park.
The El Corredor gelding was bred in Ontario, so he is eligible for the Canadian Triple Crown series, which will begin with the Queen's Plate Stakes on June 25 at Woodbine.
"That's our thought right now—that if we had to make a decision today, we would just point to the Canadian races," Pegram said. "On the other hand, you never make a decision until you have to, so we'll see what happens the next few weeks."
The major preps on Saturday will be the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct, Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne Race Course, and Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Like Now, Hutcheson Stakes (G2) winner Keyed Entry, Sham Stakes (G3) winner Bob and John, and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Deputy Glitters all are expected for the Wood, along with Greeley's Legacy, Niagara Causeway, Platinum Couple, Scanlon's Song, and Showing Up.
El Camino Real Derby (G3) winner Cause to Believe tops the projected field for the Illinois Derby, which also figures to draw Sweetnorthernsaint, Creative Force, Devilofarush, Itsallaboutthechase, Lewis Michael, Malameeze, Mister Triester, My Golden Song, and Racketeer.
Santa Catalina Stakes (G2) winner Brother Derek will take a three-race win streak into the Santa Anita Derby, where he will probably face San Felipe Stakes (G2) winner A. P. Warrior, Fast Parade, Indy Wildcat, Point Determined, Sacred Light, and Wildfang.—Jeff Lowe
