FAIRPLEX : Favorite Run Down in Stake

Trainer Jim Buss knew his Desert Mirage was the fastest horse in the race, but he was worried about the small Fairplex Park track with its tight turns.

His worst fear came true Thursday when New Aspirations, ridden by G.F. Almeida, made a strong move around the far turn and held off the late-charging and heavily favored Desert Mirage to win the $110,000 Barretts Juvenile by 2 1/2 lengths.

“This horse ran big today,” trainer Jack Van Berg said of New Aspirations. “We were worried about (Desert Mirage), but the way this horse ran, nobody was going to catch him.”

It was the second year in a row that Almeida had the winning mount in the 6 1/2-furlong Barretts. He rode Stepoutoftheboat to a victory in this race a year ago.

“I just followed instructions,” Almeida said. “I kept him inside early to save ground, then we made a big move outside and he really took off.”

That was the kind of race Buss had in mind for Desert Mirage, but he fell too far behind in the early running and had some traffic problems in the nine-horse field at the top of the stretch.

“It’s really too bad,” Buss said. “This horse was by far the best in this field, but it’s tough to make up a lot of ground on this track. He was trying to find room down the stretch, but I think he got clipped (heels) and had to change course before he got going.”

Score Quick finished third.