Mister Frisky’s Biggest Challenge

Laz Barrera is back in the Kentucky Derby with a legend that could surpass even the reputation of the great trainer himself.

The man from Cuba saddled Bold Forbes to win the 1976 Derby, and he came back two years later to sweep the Triple Crown with Affirmed. His newest superstar, named Mister Frisky, made his reputation in Puerto Rico, although he was foaled in Florida.

Mister Frisky won 13 consecutive races for Puerto Rican trainer Guengo Rodriguez.

In January, the colt’s owners, Jose and Marta Fernandez, had Mister Frisky shipped to California to be trained for a shot at the big time by Barrera. Mister Frisky has remained unbeaten by winning the San Vicente, the San Rafael and the Santa Anita Derby.

He’s expected to be second choice behind Summer Squall in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. A victory by him could stir a rally of flag-waving Puerto Ricans that hasn’t been seen here since Bold Forbes did it.

With his victory in the Santa Anita Derby, Mister Frisky tied Citation for the longest winning streak of modern times--16 races. Some racing experts, however, like to point out that all of Citation’s victories came against major American competition.

“Puerto Rico has American horses,” Barrera said. “Some of them might be cheap, but he used to go (the first quarter-mile) in 22 and change down there. That’s fast anywhere.

“He’s given me 20 more years to live,” said Barrera, who has undergone two heart bypass operations.

“The first bypass was caused by Affirmed,” he said. “He was the greatest horse of all time. He kept beating Alydar, a great horse.”

When he comes to Kentucky, Barrera makes a point of going by to see both Affirmed and Bold Forbes, at stud in nearby Lexington.

“They are like family to me,” he said. “I go by and talk to them and take them some carrots. I gave carrots to Affirmed (at Calumet Farm), and Alydar (also at Calumet) got jealous.”

In his great battles through the Triple Crown with Alydar running second each time, Affirmed got his reputation. “That Alydar,” Barrera said. “I told Mr. (Lou) Wolfson (owner of Affirmed) that he ought to buy Alydar. He told Mrs. (Lucille) Markey (owner of Alydar) that he would give her $1 million for him and she said no.”

When Barrera won the Derby with Bold Forbes, perhaps his greatest training achievement came five weeks later.

Bold Forbes, seen as a speed-crazed front runner, lost the Preakness after a battle on the front end with Honest Pleasure. Then Barrera sent the colt out to win the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes, longest of the Triple Crown races.

Bold Forbes had raced in Puerto Rico as a 2-year-old, then was sent to Barrera. “He cost $15,200 as a yearling,” Barrera said. Mister Frisky cost $15,000. Considering the inflation of racehorses in 14 years, that means Mister Frisky, by a stallion named Marsayhas, was cheap.

“He’s about 15.3 hands,” said Barrera, referring to the standard height measurement of horses. Each hand is about four inches.

“His heart is 17.8,” he said, referring to the colt’s will to race hard.

In San Juan, where he raced at the El Commandante race track, some are suggesting that Mister Frisky deserves a place along some of great human sports figures from Puerto Rico. Such talk is how legends are born.

In fact, Sports Illustrated reported that there were 2,000 people at the airport to see Mister Frisky off to the main land. It’s a nice story, but Marta Fernandez told the Courier-Journal in Louisville that she and her oldest daughter, Griselle, were the only ones there.

Mister Frisky developed some heat, or swelling, Friday in his left front ankle. “It’s gone now, Barrera said. “He’s 100%.”

Barrera is beginning to get sentimental and confident about this Derby. On the eve of Bold Forbes’ victory, he spent the night talking by phone to his aunts in Mexico. “We spent the night crying,” he said.