Barbados Makes the Grade in Hutcheson

Suzanne Stables' Barbados became a graded stakes winner Jan. 24 with a hard fought victory over X Y Jet in the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park .

Sent off as the 7-10 favorite in the field of six, Barbados tracked the pace of X Y Jet before collaring that stubborn rival in the stretch to prevail by a half-length.

"It was a much closer race than I would have liked," trainer Mike Tomlinson said. "The colt ducked in and showed some heart. We're very proud of his race today."

Second choice X Y Jet set the pace from the start under jockey Edgard Zayas, getting aquarter-mile splits :22.80 and :45.23, with Barbados stalking in second under Luis Saez.

The two pulled away from the rest of the field and as they turned for home. Barbados put his head in front of X Y Jet at midstretch and never looked back, giving the 3-year-old son of Speightstown   his third straight victory.

"(Saez) told me after the race he had (the runner-up) measured," Tomlinson said.

Barbados returned $3.40, $2.40, and $2.10 to win after running the seven furlongs in 1:24.39 on a fast track. X Y Jet paid $3.40 to place and $2.80 to show, while Big Family returned $4.20 to show.

"I looked at the race and I didn't see a lot of speed in the race," Saez said. "I knew the other horse (X Y Jet) was the speed because the other one (Bluegrass Singer) was scratched. So I needed to keep my horse close. The horse in front looked like he was going very easy. When we came into the stretch, I was worried my horse wouldn't pass him. But my horse likes a fight. When I asked him, he gave me a lot."

Barbados was purchased for $340,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November sale by owner Paul Hanifl, who races under Suzanne Stables. Hanifl now has hopes of stretching the horse out to two turns.

"It was a great win," Hanifl said. "Anyone with a 3-year-old before the first Saturday in May, you know they say hope springs eternal. He has potential. Who knows what he could be. We don't know if he will run long. We'll probably look to run him in something a little longer."

The colt raced for WinStar Farm in his first three starts for trainer Kellyn Gorder before being sold Nov. 11.

In his debut, Barbados finished second on the grass at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6 before tiring to fifth over the turf in his second start Sept. 24, also at Kentucky Downs.

The bay colt then broke his maiden by five lengths in the slop at Keeneland Oct. 16.

Since the purchase, Barbados has won both of his starts for Tomlinson, also taking the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream by three lengths Jan. 3.

"The horse has done exceptionally well and it's been a lot fun," Tomlinson said.

Barbados was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in Kentucky and is out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Northern Station.

Big Family, the longest shot on the board at 44-1 got up to be a distant third over Richard the Great and Bridget's Big Luvy, while Dom the Bomb was eased after showing brief speed in the seven-furlong contest.

Both Bluegrass Singer and Stanford were early scratches; Bluegrass Singer's connections opted to run in the Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) later on the card.