ARCADIA, Calif. — In an impressive display of talent, Barnes triumphed over stablemate Romanesque by 5 1/2 lengths to claim victory in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes. This event, orchestrated by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, showcased a promising field of contenders aiming for the Kentucky Derby at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, the 3-year-old colt Barnes completed the seven furlong race in a time of 1:22.15, earning payouts of $4, $2.80, and $2.10 as the slight favorite at even-money odds. The colt had a winning pool that was just $307 above that of Bullard, who finished in a close third.
“I knew he would perform well,” Baffert commented. “I was keeping an eye on Juan and his familiarity with the horse became evident, even though he mentioned that Barnes was a bit green. However, every exercise rider who’s worked with him insists that he has more speed to give. It’s normal for all of them to be a bit inexperienced at this stage. It’s crucial for these horses to show improvement in their second race.”
With this victory, Barnes has now maintained an unbeaten record of 2-0. The colt was acquired for a staggering $3.2 million as a two-year-old by owner Amr Zedan.
“He had to really stretch to acquire this horse,” Baffert explained. “Having clientele like this makes all the difference.” Romanesque, also under Baffert’s care, returned at odds of $5.20 and $2.40, while Bullard, finishing just behind in third, paid $2.10 to show.
In Barnes’ second career outing and his first stakes competition, he started strong, battling for the lead with McKinzie Street in the early going. As they approached the second turn, Barnes pulled ahead, showcasing strength through the stretch to secure a commanding victory.
“He’s really impressive. I adore him,” said Hernandez, who was experiencing his first ride aboard Barnes. “He was quite spirited down the backstretch, but there’s still a learning curve for him. What I find appealing is that when we reached the quarter pole, he lost focus and started to look around. However, once I corrected him, he responded beautifully. I was genuinely taken aback by how strongly he finished today.”
Baffert shared his admiration, noting that Barnes reminded him of his famous 2015 Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah. The colt carries the name of Baffert’s long-time assistant, Jimmy Barnes.
“They caught me by surprise, and it was a real honor,” Barnes said, reflecting on his nomination. “I felt a bit anxious, but it’s all going well so far. I experienced a little knot in my stomach, but I anticipate it will only improve moving forward.”
