In the run up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the Thorobros took a good hard look at the past 20 years of Derbies and tried to rank the top twelve. We were able to arrive at this highly scientific ranking through a complicated logarithm that generated a foolproof list of the best Kentucky Derbies of the past two decades. This year’s renewal of America’s most famous horse race looks to be particularly strong – perhaps we will have a new addition to these rankings come May 3, 2015.
Our mission: rank and identify the top twelve Kentucky Derbies of the past 20 years. The problem? “Greatest” is perhaps the vaguest and most subjective word in all of sports. The same holds true in horse racing, and was a recognized limitation as we set out on this quest. In the end, our top selection did not include any of the objective ingredients that you think the recipe for the “greatest” Derby would require. There was no dramatic photo finish. The field of Derby contenders was not particularly strong. There was no rivalry. The winning time was not incredibly fast. But there was a dominant performance and a beloved horse, who transcends the actual qualities of the race he won. Barbaro’s 2006 Kentucky Derby was at or near the top of each of our ballots. And that is entirely a credit to Barbaro, his unbeaten record, his legacy, his tragedy, and his “what if”. Our “greatest” Derby, coincided with the “greatest” horse and the most tragic but unforgettable tale of the past Runs for the Roses.
Prelude
Barbaro, the son of Dynaformer, was owned by Gretchen and Roy Jackson of West Grove, Pennsylvania (who are pointed to return to the 2015 Preakness with Lexington winner Divining Rod) and trained by plane crash rescue hero (and 1996 Olympic flag bearer) Michael Matz.
After winning his first two career starts by a combined 16 lengths at Delaware Park and Laurel, Barbaro began his three year old campaign on New Years Day, 2006 with his first Graded Stakes start, in the Tropical Stakes Derby at Calder. Barbaro, ridden for the first time by Edgar Prado, coasted to a three length victory. He then continued his South Florida dominance capturing the Grade 3 Holy Bull and then the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream. In the Florida Derby, he posted a new career top 103 beyer. Barbaro was headed to Churchill unblemished, a perfect five for five.
The Race
Yet, perhaps because of his inexperience or because of his relatively obscure Mid-Atlantic roots, Barbaro was not the Derby favorite. That honor belonged to Sweetnorthernsaint, who won the Illinois Derby by over nine lengths posting a 107 beyer, the highest for any three year old that year.
Much like this year’s Derby, there was plenty of speed signed on for the 2006 Derby, with speedsters Keyed Entry, Sinister Minister and Sharp Humor all likely going for the lead. As the gates opened, the race followed script with Keyed Entry and Sinister Minister dueling through fast opening fractions and a 46 opening mile. Barbaro settled behind the leaders in fifth, just outside of his stable mate and Jackson owned Showing Up (this Thorobro’s long shot pick). As they rounded the far turn and Sinister Minister briefly assumed the lead, Prado angled Barbaro outside for his run.
And just like that, it was over.
“And Barbaro is pulling away. . . . But it’s all Barbaro in a SUBLIME performance. He runs away from them all and he has saved something left for the Preankness.” Bellowed a clearly impressed Tom Durkin.
Barbaro had just won the 2006 Kentucky Derby by six and half lengths–the second largest margin of victory in the races history. He probably could have won by ten if not put under wraps well before the sixteenth pole.
Longshot Bluegrass Cat was second ($587 exacta) and Steppenwolfer was third, completing an $11,418 trifecta.
The Aftermath
No sooner had Durkin declared that Barbaro had something left for the Preakness, did the Triple Crown buzz begin. Perhaps we say it every year, but in 2006, it certainly felt like this was the year. As Andrew Beyer titled his column in the leadup to the Preakness: “This time, Triple Crown hype is justified.”
Of course, we will never know what may have been. After breaking through the gate at the start of the Preakness, Barbaro reloaded, bobbled at the start, and pulled up just a furlong into the race. He had fractured his right hind leg in 20 places. You can hear the chilling screams from the Pimlico crowd as they had an unwanted front row seat to the horrific injury.
Barbaro underwent surgery the next day at the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania. He would undergo five additional surgeries in the seven months that followed before finally succumbing to laminitis, which had spread to his two front legs, in January 2007. Here is a link to HRTV’s special on Barbaro, detailing his and his connections’ courageous battle.
Barbaro’s remains were interred at the front entrance of Churchill Downs, where a statute now stands memorializing the greatest winner and, thus, the greatest Derby, of the past two decades.
