Barbadian Runner with Forest Boyce up. (The Maryland Jockey Club)
Dan Illman/The Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – In Barbadian Runner’s case, it’s all about the bit.
After lugging in during the stretch run of his second consecutive race, a third-place finish in the Maryland Juvenile Championship on Dec. 7, trainer Henry Walters decided it was time for some changes.
Walters added blinkers and a new bit to cure Barbadian Runner’s troubling new habit.
Bit by bit, Barbadian Runner has improved. He finished third in the Heft Stakes three weeks later, then avoided stretch trouble when rallying to take the Spectacular Bid in his seasonal debut.
In Saturday’s $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile at Laurel Park, Barbadian Runner stayed straight and strong for most of the race, benefiting from a perfect ride from Forest Boyce to beat back a game Pay Billy by a nose in 1:38.39.
“[Forest] said she ran as straight as an arrow until it got late in the race,” Walters said. “That could be because he had to run another sixteenth of a mile. He’s a peculiar horse because he doesn’t [lug in] in the morning. I don’t know if he gets anxious. Sometimes he’ll do it down the backside, sometimes he won’t.”
The early pace was glacial in the Miracle Wood as Spectacular Bid runner-up Crab Daddy set fractions of 24.82 and 48.91 seconds while lightly prompted by Pay Billy. Meanwhile, Boyce had Barbadian Runner pocketed behind the leaders in prime position.
“I was expecting a much faster pace,” said Walters. “I was a little worried going down the backside that he wouldn’t have as much punch. I thought everybody would be running at the end. Turning for home, Forest put him where he belonged, and he was right there. He’s very gritty.”
Barbadian Runner went after Pay Billy after six furlongs in 1:13.51, advanced to a short lead in the upper stretch, then had just enough in the tank to last under the second-wire finish. Favored Sacred Thunder finished third, 3 ¾ lengths behind the runner-up. Crab Daddy and All the Hardways completed the order of finish. Studlydoright scratched.
“He didn’t drift nearly as bad as he had in the past,” Boyce said. “I thought we’d get a little more pace. We got to sit the perfect trip. I felt super confident [turning for home]. He’s just so full of himself right now.”
Barbadian Runner was bred in Maryland by Shamrock Farm and is by Barbados. His dam, the Northern Afleet mare Quiet Run, is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner It Happened Again, stakes-winner Lucky Sam and Grade 3-placed Murch.
Walters isn’t sure whether Barbadian Runner will compete in Laurel’s next major test for 3-year-olds, the $100,000 Private Terms at 1 1/16 miles on March 22.
“If I stick to my plans, he’s probably going to go to the farm three or four weeks and rest up for the spring,” Walters mentioned.
