BARRIER REEF SCORES EVENING ATTIRE STAKES
Article taken from TDN
Barrier Reef by MIZZEN MAST, tabbed as a “TDN Rising Star” at two following a win over this surface, added a score in the Whirlaway Stakes last winter for Tom Albertrani before transferring to Godolphin. However, the grey failed to sparkle in four starts whilst flying the famed blue colors, and was given some time to regroup following a sixth-place finish in an optional claimer at Saratoga Aug. 23.
Back with Albertrani, Barrier Reef swooped to capture an optional claimer over track and trip Jan. 2, and was favored to continue his love affair with the winterized surface. Allowed to settle into stride, the four-year-old raced at the back of the pack before putting in his usual wide rally on the far turn. He entered the lane on even terms with Broadway Producer and, after a prolonged battle, just bested that rival in the final strides.
‘I thought he would go by a little easier, but the other horse [Broadway Producer] was really digging in,’ said Andy Rehm, assistant to Albertrani. ‘He’s had a tendency to make a big move and then stick there, but [jockey] Ramon [Dominguez] said that wasn’t it, the other horse came back. You worry about 15 days off a lifetime top, but there was no reason not to run him. We let him dictate. It was a good horse race.’ Rehm indicated that Barrier Reef would likely go next in the nine-furlong Stymie Handicap Feb. 28
Date:
18 January 2009