Barbaro Wins and Now Waits

Whether Barbaro is the best 3-year-old in the country is open to debate, but the son of Dynaformer has definitely proved to be the most versatile.

Already accomplished on turf and in the slop, Barbaro showed he could handle a dry track with a gritty win over pacesetter Sharp Humor in the $1-million Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Remaining perfect in five starts for Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables and trainer Michael Matz, the 8-5 favorite won by a half-length in 1:49.01 for the 1 1/8 miles.

This was the final start for Barbaro before the Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs.

That means it will be five weeks between races for Barbaro; no horse since Needles 50 years ago has won the Derby after a layoff of that length.

Given that Matz has made no mistakes with the best horse he has ever trained, there is no reason to question the schedule he has planned for Barbaro.

“He was ready to run today,” Matz said after Barbaro’s first race since the Holy Bull in his dirt debut on Feb. 4.

“I’m no more concerned now [heading into the Kentucky Derby] than I was about the eight-week layoff he had before today. He has done everything we’ve asked of him.”

Sharp Humor, the 6-1 fourth choice who was making his first start around two turns, finished second, three lengths clear of 4-1 third choice Sunriver. California shipper Sam’s Ace, who is trained by Doug O’Neill and ridden by Felipe Martinez, was a distant fourth at 34-1 in his graded stakes debut.

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Although jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher had to settle for third in the Florida Derby, the always potent combination did win five other races on Gulfstream’s marathon 13-race program.

Three of the wins came with favorites in stakes races -- Exclusive Quality in the $75,000 Spectacular Bid, Honey Ryder in the $150,000 Orchid and Bandini in the $100,000 Skip Away. The other stakes winners Saturday were 10-1 shot Little Thunder in the $100,000 Artax, Silver Whistle in the $150,000 Pan American and Drum Major in the $75,000 Lure.

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Preachinatthebar, a 7-1 shot, won his first race at Santa Anita in more than two years when he took the $110,600 Tokyo City Handicap.

Trained by Bob Baffert for owner-breeder Mike Pegram, who had combined to win the $600,000 WinStar Derby with 9-10 favorite Wanna Runner earlier in the day at Sunland Park, Preachinatthebar prevailed by one length over 6-1 shot Texcess and seven others in the Grade III. Ridden by Jon Court, he ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.14. It was his first win in Arcadia since he edged St Averil in the 2004 San Felipe Stakes.

Melanyhasthepapers was third and El Roblar, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth.

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Earlier in the day at Santa Anita, Bettarun Fast, a 31-1 shot, skimmed the rail to win the $100,000 Santa Paula Stakes.

It was the first victory in five starts in California for the 3-year-old Kelly Kip filly, who had begun her career with three victories in a row in Florida. Ridden by Aaron Gryder, Bettarun Fast ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.08 for owners Patricia and Stephen Fitzpatrick and trainer Vladimir Cerin. El Mirage Queen was second and Acceleration finished third.

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Jockey Victor Espinoza won all three of the stakes at Sunland Park. In addition to Wanna Runner, Espinoza won with 7-10 favorite Sweet Fourty in the $250,000 WinStar/Sunland Park Oaks and on 5-1 shot Show Me Your Glory in the $100,00-added Harry Henson Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

The win was the third in seven starts for Wanna Runner, a 3-year-old El Corredor gelding. Sky Diving, who is also trained by Baffert, finished second.

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West Virginia, a 7-1 shot, rallied from well off the pace to win the $200,000 Excelsior Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Aqueduct. Funny Cide was second and Colita third in the Grade III.