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FEATURE STALLION MAY 20, 2006 Still dynamite at 21 by Jordan Strickler America's new favorite son is Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Barbaro. Many believe that he is the next great horse, doing what other talented and deserving sophomores who have competed in the Derby have not been able to do -- win. It is often said that the best horse in the field does not always come away victorious, especially in the first jewel of the Triple Crown, but this year the Michael Matz trainee was able to do just that, giving him a head start on many of his past counterparts. Saturday will determine if the talk can take another step toward reality in the 131st running of the Preakness S. (G1). Barbaro is the current name that pops into mind when horsemen think of DYNAFORMER (Roberto), but the aging 21-year-old stallion has produced some of the most brilliant runners over the past decade, including Grade 1 winners Perfect Drift, Riskaverse, Film Maker, Starrer, Sand Springs, Vergennes, Collect the Cash, Critical Eye and McDynamo. "He contributes durability, soundness and toughness," said Three Chimney's Anne Peters about Dynaformer's offspring. Just like their father, Dynaformer's foals tend to exhibit high energy, which has transferred to success at the track as exhibited by 10 Grade 1 winners, 28 graded/group stakes winners and 484 overall winners. His foals have combined to produce more than 1,600 winner's circle photos -- over both the dirt and turf -- while pocketing in excess of $63 million. This year, Dynaformer's book has hit the cap of 110 mares, the most mares which he is allowed to cover at Three Chimneys. The most successful nicks, Peters said, have been with mares from the lines of Mr. Prospector, Dr. Blum, Northern Dancer, Naskra and Dr. Fager. And now for the cast: Perfect Drift is a gelding who, over the past six years, has been scrapping and digging his way to seven graded wins, most notably the 2003 Stephen Foster H. (G1). Of his 11 wins, eight have come against stakes rivals, and the bay has also garnered second-place finishes in the Whitney H. (G1) and two runnings of the Pacific Classic (G1), as well as hitting the board in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Stephen Foster H. (G1) (twice), and Clark H. (G2) (twice). What has all this work amounted to? In monetary terms, more than $4.3 million in earnings. Ocean Silk was awarded co-highweight filly at three in England in 2003 for her victory in the Lupe S. that year as well as runner-up finishes in the Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1), Ribblesdale S. (Eng-G2) and a third in the Prix de Royallieu (Fr-G2). Barbaro still remains unbeaten in six starts. The number may not be impressive, but the races and the fashion in which he has done it should be. Of the six, five have been stakes races (four graded), with his first three starts coming on the turf. Although prior to the Derby the dark bay had never been less than second at any point of call, he was forced to rate in fifth and then fourth before making his move midway on the far turn prior to gaining the advantage at the five-sixteenths pole, going on to win by 6 1/2. Riskaverse, a tough mare who earned more than $2.1 million, captured two editions of the Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) in 2004-05 and the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) in 2002. Other notable marks on her resume include seconds in the Beverly D. S. (G1), Diana H. (G1) and Garden City Breeders' Cup H. (G1). Film Maker continued the QE II tradition in 2003 (Collect the Cash won that event in 2000), winning that one as well as annexing four other graded stakes and coming home second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in 2004. She finished third in that Breeders' Cup event in 2005. In 2005, Sand Springs won the Diana S. (G1) and Just a Game Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and in the process accumulated a bankroll in excess of $1.2 million. And the list goes on and on: Critical Eye (2001 Hempstead H. [G1]) and 2000 Gazelle H. [G1]), Starrer (2003 Santa Margarita Invitational H. [G1] and Santa Maria H. [G1]), Vergennes (1998 Hollywood Derby [G1]), not to mention McDynamo, who was a two-time champion steeplechaser, winning the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase S. (NSA-G1) three times (2003-2005) as well as the Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings (NSA-G1). And that's just the Grade 1 winners. Dynaformer himself had a flourishing career on the track. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the dark bay annexed the 1988 Jersey Derby (G2) and Discovery H. (G2). From 30 starts in three years of racing (1987-1989), he earned $671,207 with a line of 7-5-2. An increase in stud fee has not been determined, but is a possibility if Barbaro should win the Triple Crown, Peters commented. Dynaformer currently stands at Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Kentucky, for $100,000.
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