Holy Bull

Barbaro made an easy transition from dirt to turf in Saturday's Holy Bull (Eleanor Gustafson/Horsephotos.com) In his first start on the main track, Lael Stables' BARBARO (Dynaformer) maintained his unbeaten record and solidified his credentials as a serious Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect by scoring a three-quarters of a length victory in Saturday's $150,000 Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Under clever handling by Edgar Prado, the Michael Matz-trained dark bay completed the 1 1/8-mile event on a sloppy track in 1:49 1/5. Barbaro broke like a shot as soon as the gates sprang open and ominously dogged early pacesetter Doctor Decherd (Louis Quatorze) through quick fractions of :23 and :46 1/5. Always traveling smoothly on the outside, Barbaro cruised up to the leader on the far turn, put his head in front through six furlongs in 1:10 1/5, and established a 1 1/2-length lead in the stretch while passing the mile in 1:36. With nearly all of the rest of the field lumbering on one-paced behind him, the only danger to emerge late was the also-eligible Great Point (Point Given), who came with an impressive rush in the center of the track. Prado was sitting quietly on Barbaro, not urging him visibly or pushing to any extent, confident that he had done enough to secure the victory. Great Point's furious charge carried him to Barbaro's tail as they flashed past the wire, and he was 2 1/2 lengths clear of My Golden Song (Unbridled's Song) in third.

"He broke running, and I had a lot of horse under me the whole way," Prado

said. "I turned him loose, and he just opened up. He was looking for some

competition in the stretch. He saw that horse (Great Point) on his outside, but

I wasn't ever worried."

Neither was the winning trainer concerned that Barbaro hopped back to his

left lead in deep stretch.

"When he saw the lights (at the finish line), he switched leads, but he was

never in trouble," Matz said.

After holding a prominent position through much of the race, Flashy Bull

(Holy Bull) tired in the stretch but saved fourth. Itsallboutthechase (Devil His

Due) closed mildly for fifth, with Doctor Decherd, Sunriver (Saint Ballado),

Fagan's Legacy (Monarchos), Saint Augustus (Saint Ballado), Big Lover (Ecton

Park), Hemingway's Key (Notebook) and Park Avenue Prince (Siphon [Brz]) rounding

out the order of finish. Rehoboth (Wagon Limit) scratched, and the other

also-eligible, Barcola (Old Trieste), did not draw into the field.

As the 3-2 favorite, Barbaro returned $5.20 $4.20 and $3.80. Great Point, a

rank outsider at 25-1, yielded windfalls of $14.40 and $9.40 while boosting the

exacta to $62.80. The 11-1 My Golden Song paid $6.40 and completed the trifecta

worth $672.20. With Flashy Bull, the second choice at 4-1, in fourth, the

5-13-9-8 superfecta was good for $2,804.20 (all exotics $1).

Barbaro has extended his record to a perfect four-for-four, including

sparkling victories on the turf in the Tropical Park Derby (G3) and Laurel

Futurity, with career earnings of $249,000.

Barbaro was bred in Kentucky by his owners, Mr. and Mrs. M. Roy Jackson, who

race under the name of Lael Stables. Out of the multiple Grade 2-placed La Ville

Rouge (Carson City), he is a half-brother to 2005 Stanton S. winner Holy Ground

(Saint Ballado), also trained by Matz, and a two-year-old colt named Man in

Havana (Quiet American). This is the family of multiple Grade 2 victor During as

well as multiple stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Lucky Lavender Gal (Carson

City).

Matz expects to keep his star in Florida for the time being.

"God willing, he comes out of the race good, and since we're here in Florida,

I suppose we'll look at either the (March 4) Fountain of Youth (S. [G2]) or the

(April 1) Florida Derby (G1), or possibly both," Matz said. "We'll let him tell

us."