Barnes dominates for Baffert to win Perryville at Keeneland
Jockey José Ortiz called for Barnes to accelerate in the second turn Saturday. The up-and-down colt more than delivered. He turned a close, stalking trip into a runaway with an 8 1/4-length triumph in the Grade 3, $350,000 Perryville Stakes at Keeneland.
The seven-furlong win against four other 3-year-olds was the first victory since January for the $3.2 million Into Mischief colt who is trained by Bob Baffert for owner Amr Zedan. Barnes is 2-for-2 in Kentucky.
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Taylor’s Version (9-1) established the early pace through a first quarter-mile of 21.69 seconds. Barnes (8-5) was within a half-length at that point up the backstretch.
Barnes went two wide around the turn to lead through a half-mile in 44.18 seconds. Making his second start since he was transferred to trainer Todd Pletcher, odds-on favorite Captain Cook (4-5) was tucked inward by Irad Ortiz Jr. to split horses in his late rally which proved futile.
By the time Barnes made three-quarters of a mile in 1:09.80, he was 4 1/2 lengths ahead and in cruise control the rest of the way. His final time on the fast main track was 1:23.45, and he returned $5.22, $2.58 and $2.16.
Ortiz said he talked to Baffert, who was in California, in a Saturday telephone conversation to discuss strategy.
“He wanted me to break out of there very aggressive and put (Barnes) forward,” Ortiz said. “The horse helped me, and I did just that. He finished the race running.”
Captain Cook finished a clear second in his first start since he lost by a nose to Patch Adams finishing second Aug. 23 in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) at Saratoga. He paid $2.78 and $2.10.
Three-time stakes winner Owen Almighty (6-1), who had finished off the board in his last three starts, traveled in third throughout and finished third to pay $2.78 to show.
Rolando (13-1) was fourth, and Taylor’s Version (9-1) finished last. Gaming, also trained by Baffert, was scratched.
Barnes is 7: 3-1-1. With his $217,000 first prize Saturday, his earnings rose to $557,750. After winning his debut in November at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky-bred colt finished first in the San Vicente (G2) in January. His four losses since included a second in the San Felipe (G2), a fifth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), a third with Ortiz aboard in the Jerkens and a fourth in the Gallant Bob (G2).