Aqueduct notes: Barbara tries to rebuild stable

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It’s only three wins, and they came in mid- to low-level claiming races, but it’s a start. Robert Barbara hopes it’s the start of something big.

Barbara, who has trained several graded stakes winners in his career, has fallen on hard times during the last two years professionally and personally. Re-energized and refocused, Barbara believes he is ready to re-emerge as a factor on the New York Racing Association circuit.

Barbara, 60, won only four races from 100 starters in 2012. This year, he is 12 for 89, with three of those winners having come at the current Aqueduct fall meet, where he is 3-3-0 from 12 starters. Barbara, who used to carry close to 40 horses, is down to 12 but said he is actively searching for more.

“A lot of things have happened, so now I’m coming back,” Barbara, who has won 832 races in his career, said Friday at Belmont. “I feel real good about everything. I expect to have a big winter. I got money to claim and people to train for, and I think we’re going to get started rolling again.”

Professionally, Barbara points to the death of his promising 2-year-old J C’s Pride in the fall of 2011 as the beginning of his decline. J C’s Pride had set a track record in his debut at Saratoga but was eased with an ankle injury in the Grade 1 Hopeful. Later that year, J C’s Pride developed an infection that spread to his kidney, and he had to be euthanized.

Shortly after that, owner Joseph Bucci ended his business relationship with Barbara. This past summer, Joseph Greeley, who operated Sabine Stable and was one of Barbara’s big owners, died.

Personally, Barbara said he had some family issues that took his attention away from work, including the death of his nephew.
“There were things that took a little focus away from everything for me for a little while, but not now,” Barbara said. “I’m very focused, very energetic, and ready to rock and roll again. I’ve done it, I know how to do it, and I’ll do it again. It’s all good.”

One horse Barbara is looking forward to running – perhaps in next Saturday’s $100,000 Garland of Roses Stakes – is Conkate, a 4-year-old filly who was claimed by owner Brian Kahn on closing day at Santa Anita and sent to Barbara. Conkate won a minor stakes in September at Barretts Racing at Fairplex for trainer Doug O’Neill before running last in the $100,000 L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita.

Barbara said he was going to breeze the horse Saturday at Belmont before determining whether to run in the Garland of Roses or look for something else.

“She’s really a beautiful filly,” Barbara said. “She’s a stakes winner already. She looks like a competitive filly. You never know coming from there to here.”

Palace possible for Gravesend

Palace earned a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in Thursday’s Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap – his third consecutive victory – and his year might not be finished yet.

Trainer Linda Rice said Friday that Palace came out of the race “great,” and she will look at the $100,000 Gravesend on Dec. 21 over the inner track for Palace.

“The Gravesend is definitely a possibility for him,” Rice said.

Rice claimed Palace for $20,000 in October 2012, and the horse has won seven of 10 starts for her and owner Antonio Miuccio and more than $500,000 for his career. Moreover, Palace is a son of City Zip, whom Rice trained to eight stakes victories, including the Grade 1 Hopeful.

“The fact he’s a son of City Zip, who was such a tremendous racehorse, makes it really cool for me,” Rice said.

BCCA holiday event Dec. 7

The Belmont Child Care Association will hold its 12th annual holiday shopping event at Belmont Park on Dec. 7, giving the children of backstretch workers a chance to shop for holiday gifts for siblings and parents.

Last year, approximately 350 children picked out gifts for their relatives and themselves. The event is held from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Belmont Turf & Field Club.

The BCCA, which takes care of children of backstretch workers at NYRA tracks, is seeking donations of gifts that children can give to their family. The gifts it can use are for children from birth to 16 years old and for moms and dads.

For more information or to donate, contact the BCCA at (516) 488-2103 or visit www.belmontchildcare.org.

◗ For the second straight year, racing will remain on the main track until the second week of December before moving to the inner track Dec. 11.