Barnes, who showed his brilliance from the sales ring Churchill Downs Unpleasant Santa Anita Park Unpleasant Keenelandis named after Jimmy Barnes, the longtime assistant to Hall of Fame coach Bob Baffert. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni purchased the colt for Amr Zedan’s Zedan Racing Stables in 2023 at Fasig-Tipton’s The Saratoga Sale for $3.2 million.
“Barnes was a beautiful yearling, a must-have,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “He is a big, massive, beautiful horse with quality and loads of speed. He was just starting to develop himself as a great Grade 1 talent before he strained his tendons. This was a really big disappointment as we expected him to have a huge year on the track.”
Barnes got his first win early at Churchill Downs in what was Baffert’s first appearance there after a track ban was lifted. The Courier Journal quoted Baffert as saying: “I knew that if I came here, I would be bringing a very serious two-year-old with me. And of course I did. It’s a glorious day.” By fractions of :21.90, :44.73, with 5 furlongs in :56.61, Barnes’ final time was four ticks off the Churchill track record. In his next start, the San Vicente Stakes (G2), he cruised to an easy victory by 5 1/2 lengths.
Five times on the board in seven career starts, ranked Grade 1 in the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga Race CourseBarnes showed a true tour de force in what would be his final start in the Perryville Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, where he destroyed a strong field and left by 8 1/4 lengths. That effort would have Barnes listed as the favorite for the Malibu Stakes (G1), but he was dropped from that December 28 race.
“Barnes is such a big, beautiful and handsome horse,” said Sikura, president of Hill ‘n’ Dale in Xalapa. “He is a son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief. He comes from a top Kinsman (Farm), American dirt pedigree, including Class 1 winners Spinning Round, Majestic Warrior and Dream Supreme. I love seeing such strong broodmare sires in a pedigree like AP Indy, Seeking the Gold and Dixieland Band. Quality and class abound in his pedigree. Barnes was a very fast, high class racehorse. His race at Perryville (Stakes), winning by more than 8 lengths, stands out to me as a special achievement.”
“From the moment we saw it, we knew we had to buy it,” said bloodstock agent Donato Lanni. “Bob (Baffert) absolutely loved him, as did I. You will not find a better looking horse anywhere than Barnes. He is an extremely imposing individual with an extraordinary presence, from the most influential sire of our time. Brilliant and beautiful are the two words that best describe him.”
Barnes will stand for $15,000 (booths and nurses). A limited number of shares may be offered for sale.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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