Barnes gives Baffert his 14th San Vicente winner

The highly-regarded Barnes earned his first stakes win Saturday at Santa Anita Park in the San Vicente S. (G2) when the 3-year-old drew off to a 5 ½-length victory.

Named for Bob Baffert’s long-time assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, the colt sold for $3.2 million to Amr Zedan at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale.

After winning his debut Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs, Barnes returned to his southern California base for the San Vicente. Fast out of the gate, Barnes and McKinzie Street battled closely through a half-mile in :45.10. The bay colt shook clear on the turn, then bound away from the field with authority in the stretch to win under a hand ride. Barnes’ stablemate Romanesque finished second after a troubled trip.

The final time of 1:22.15 for the seven furlongs on a fast track was good for an excellent Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“I’m happy for Amr (Zedan), he had to really stretch to get this horse,” said Baffert. “When you have clientele like that it is everything. This horse looked like that as a yearling, he looks like (broodmare sire) American Pharoah body wise. He has a lot of American Pharoah in him and it worked out.”

“They surprised me and I was honored,” the human Barnes said of his namesake. “I was a little nervous, but it is working out well so far. I had a little bit of a knot in my stomach, but it will only get better after this.”

Barnes has earned $189,000 in his two wins. He was bred in Kentucky by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, LLC.

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