MIZZEN MAST’S BARRIER REEF IS ONE TO WATCH FOR
THE CLASSICS
Barrier Reef gaining focus
Article taken from the Daily Racing Forum
By DAVID GRENING
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - As a trainer for Sheikh
Mohammed al Maktoum's Darley Stable, trainer Tom Albertrani
understands that it is his job to develop horses that might
eventually be transferred to Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation
and another trainer.
In late 2007, Albertrani won maiden races
with the colt Numaany and the filly Musical Note, both of whom were
quickly transferred to Godolphin and either have gone or will soon
be headed to Dubai.
But one maiden winner that Albertrani gets to
keep - at least for now - is Barrier Reef, who took a most
circuitous route to the winner's circle last month at Aqueduct. His
immaturity prompted him to blow the first turn and race wide
throughout, yet his talent led him to the winner's circle
anyway.
Saturday, Barrier Reef will get a new test
when he meets winners for the first time in the $75,000 Count Fleet
Stakes over Aqueduct's inner track. The Count Fleet is the race
Smarty Jones used in 2004 to kick off a 3-year-old campaign that
included victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
Barrier Reef is a long way from being a
contender for the spring classics, but his breeding, connections,
and maiden victory make him one to watch.
After finishing third in his debut going
seven furlongs on Nov. 8, Barrier Reef ran in a two-turn mile race
over the inner track on Dec. 8. That day, he blew the first turn
and raced wide down the backstretch while in last pace. He split
horses at the three-eighths pole and came five wide into the
stretch. While Hedgefund Investor opened up a clear advantage,
Barrier Reef drifted out when jockey John Velazquez hit him
left-handed. Velazquez went to his right-handed whip, and Barrier
Reef switched leads and came right next to Hedgefund Investor
before leaving him behind in the final 70 yards.
"He's never been a real agile type of horse,"
said Albertrani, who two years ago won the Preakness for Darley
with Bernardini. "A horse like him, it definitely benefited him
going two turns and getting experience. He still has a lot more to
improve only having the two races. He's trained forwardly since
then. I thought watching him train into this race this week it
looked like he's a lot more focused."
With Velazquez in south Florida, Alan Garcia
has picked up the mount on Barrier Reef. His challengers are
expected to include the undefeated New York-bred Giant Moon and
multiple winners Atta Boy Andy, Red Reef, Roman Emperor, and
Springs Road.
Date:
4 January 2008