Barbadian Runner getting a freshening, will skip Private Terms Stakes
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A rematch at Laurel between 3-year-old rivals Barbadian Runner and Pay Billy will likely have to wait. While both horses are nominated to the $100,000 Private Terms Stakes on March 22, trainer Henry Walters does not plan on entering Barbadian Runner.
“After his last race, I gave him a little break, a four-week freshener where he’s going to swim and do a little treadmill work,” Walters said. “He’s coming back to the track at the end of this month. I’m not going to run him in the Private Terms.”
Barbadian Runner and Pay Billy lit up the track in the Miracle Wood, their first meeting last month. In a stretch duel, Barbadian Runner charged late while Pay Billy, trained by Michael Gorham, was game to the wire while re-rallying on the inside. They were separated by a nose at the end, establishing themselves as top 3-year-olds in the local crop.
The Miracle Wood and Private Terms are considered prep races for the Federico Tesio, a Win and You’re In qualifier for the Preakness Stakes. Barbadian Runner may be a stakes winner at an opportune time, but a potential back door to Grade 1 glory is not tempting enough for Walters to accelerate his plans.
“I’m not going to be that ambitious with him,” Walters said. “If he were to take me there, that’s fine. I just feel a little apprehensive about stepping up that quick.”
Instead, Walters may switch his gelding to turf, a surface he tried in a Laurel allowance in October, finishing third. The James W. Murphy, a turf stakes traditionally run on the Preakness undercard, would be his target if the surface change is successful.
Meanwhile, Gorham has been impressed by Pay Billy’s progress and confirmed that he is preparing for the Private Terms. The trainer said he was encouraged, not deterred, by his colt’s defeat last time out.
“He seems to be getting better all the time,” Gorham said. “He’s really figured the whole game out, so I think he’s ready to make the next step.”
Former Bob Baffert runners Dettori and Mellencamp also were nominated to the Private Terms, but new trainer Brittany Russell said that they are not working toward the race. Dettori will run against maidens Saturday at Colonial Downs. Mellencamp arrived in her barn less than a week ago.
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