Barese ran down Bold Journey in deep stretch to win Saturday’s Gander Stakes at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.
By Tom Law
No chance turning for home.
Still pretty slim with an eighth of a mile to run.
A sixteenth? Maybe, but still not likely.
Just before the wire? Book it.
Such was the scenario that unfolded in Saturday’s $100,000 Gander Stakes at Aqueduct with Barese attempting to run down a loose-on-the-front Bold Journey in the stretch. Barese indeed got up in time, continuing a determined rally despite losing a slight stumble and losing a shoe to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
The 3-year-old son Laoban stayed perfect in the 1-mile stakes for New York-bred sophomores, adding Saturday’s win to his come-from-behind win in the $100,00 Rego Park in early January at Aqueduct. Barese won in 1:39.26 over the fast track.
“He definitely handled the mile great,” said winning jockey Dylan Davis. “The distance was not a problem for him. He’s just a horse that now I’ve learned it just takes him a little while to get his run going. Once he does and he lays it down – and he did it late again that last eighth of a mile. He stretches out nicely and gets the job done.”
Bold Journey, a son of Hard Spun coming off a sharp maiden victory going 6 furlongs in his second start, sparred with G Munning up the backstretch through the opening quarter-mile before taking over after a half in :47.51. He and Kendrick Carmouche led by a half-length at that point while Barese, last out of the gate, tracked in third.
Bold Journey continued on the lead around the far turn and opened up a 2 1/2-length advantage through 6 furlongs in 1:12.32. He widened the margin further in the stretch, drawing 4 lengths clear approaching the eighth pole.
“I was cruising,” Carmouche said.
Davis, who didn’t realize Barese lost his left front shoe until he came back to unsaddle, never panicked.
“I got into him early at the three-eighths pole and Kendrick kind of spurted away at the quarter pole and I thought I was riding for second at that time – even the owners said that,” Davis said. “For some reason, like he does, he gets that run going again and that last eighth of a mile he made up a lot of ground and ran a great race.”
Barese sliced into the lead inside the eighth pole while Bold Journey stayed one-paced. Four lengths became 3 in a blink, then 2 and 1 and eventually Barese in front and drawing away.
“I thought he didn’t run as good as I worked him the other morning,” Carmouche said. “With that being said, I do think I was sitting easy next to the lead but I think he wants to have a target to look at. I know he had it easy in his first couple starts but I feel like going around there today, he was just loping. He never picked it up and he never slowed down – he just stayed the same.”
Bold Journey held second as the 3-5 favorite, 5 1/4 lengths in front of Geno with 50-1 longshot Doin’ittherightaway fourth in the field of seven.
Bred by Becky Thomas’ Sequel Thoroughbreds and Lewis Lakin’s Lakland Farm, foaled at Sequel Thoroughbreds in Hudson, Barese is the third foal out of the unraced Successful Appeal mare Right Prevails. Trainer Mike Maker purchased the colt for $150,000 out of Thomas’ Sequel Bloodstock consignment at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Barese made his winning debut for Maker and owners Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher in one of the first two New York-bred maiden special weight races run last year, taking a 5-furlong event by a half-length May 21 at Belmont Park. Off until Jan. 9, Barese improved to 2-for-2 in the 6 1/2-furlong Rego Park.
“He tries hard every race and just when you think he’s had enough, he just gives you that last gear,” said Paradise Farm Corp.’s Peter Proscia. “It was great. He’s moving forward and Dylan did a great job keeping him together, so we’re very pleased. I didn’t think he was going to get there. My friends here had all the faith in the world, but it was a little sketchy. When he started rolling after the last seventy yards, it was a good feeling.”
“We’ve got three [wins] now – one as a 2-year-old and two stakes as a 3-year-old. It’s good. I’m not sure what the next spot is, but we’ll talk with Mike and the group and see what happens.”
Right Prevails, a full sister to Grade 3 winner and 2005 Kentucky Derby runner-up Closing Argument, had produced one winner from two starters at the time of the Gulfstream sale. Her first winner, Barese’s 5-year-old full sister Breakfastatbonnies, is 3-for-5 and makes her stakes debut in Sunday’s $100,000 Broadway at Aqueduct. An $80,000 purchase by OWL Stable at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training, Breakfastatbonnies has earned $152,140. Thomas’ Sequel Bloodstock sold Barese and Breakfastatbonnies.
Right Prevails is also the dam of a 2-year-old filly by The Lieutenant and a New York-bred yearling colt by Mission Impazible, both bred in New York and co-bred by Sequel and Lakland.
