Ax Man much the best in Sir Barton Stakes

BALTIMORE – Bob Baffert walked toward the Pimlico winner’s circle after Ax Man crushed his opposition in the Sir Barton Stakes and quipped: “We got the double going!”

The 21st running of the $100,000 Sir Barton directly preceded the Preakness, and the humor deflected the impending anxiety. In the big picture, as good as he was Saturday, Ax Man will be an historical afterthought in the backdrop of what Baffert was about to undertake in saddling heavily favored Justify for the 143rd Preakness.

“I was worried about him because he was a little anxious,” said Baffert. “With him, there’s a lot of raw talent.”

After breaking sharply in the 1 1/16-mile race under Mike Smith, the jockey of Justify, Ax Man never had a serious challenge, winning by 6 3/4 lengths. The winner returned $3.20 as the odds-on choice after finishing in 1:42.53 over sloppy going.

“Oh man, he just skipped over it,” said Smith. “End of story. He broke sharp and skipped over it, no problem. He’s exciting.”

Title Ready, who gave closest chase throughout, finished second by 4 1/2 lengths over Prince Lucky, with Pony Up another neck back in fourth. Seven 3-year-olds who had never won an open stakes comprised the field, reduced by four early scratches.

Ax Man, a homebred son of Misremembered, now has won three of four career starts. Hal Earnhardt, who bred the bay colt, owns him in partnership with his wife, Patti.

The $2 exacta (8-11) paid $11.60, the $1 trifecta (8-11-10) returned $28.50, and the 10-cent superfecta (8-11-10-2) was worth $6.28.