Corporate Power survives inquiry to score photo-finish victory in Sir Barton

BALTIMORE – Corporate Power had to survive a stretch duel, and then an inquiry, but at the end of it all, emerged with an official nose victory over Gould's Gold in the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes, for 3-year-olds who had not won an open stakes, on Saturday at Pimlico.

Corporate Power ($5.20), who was sent away as the favorite, wore blinkers for the first time. Javier Castellano, who has been aboard the colt in all four of his outings for trainer Shug McGaughey, felt they made a difference in keeping the colt focused to the wire against foes who refused to quit.

"I liked the way he did it today," Castellano said. "He was a little more focused."

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For a while, it looked like Gould's Gold, with Brian Hernandez, Jr., in the irons for Kenny McPeek and some of the same owners behind their Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, would get the evening off to a stellar start for the team. Gould's Gold cut the corner nicely to assume command from pacesetter Daily Grind, and opened up a length into the stretch while moving down to hug the rail. Daily Grind battled on, but Imperial Gun collared him and began to advance on Gould's Gold. Meanwhile, Corporate Power was still fourth, a little more than 2 1/2 lengths off the leader, in midstretch. The colt zeroed in on the leaders and nailed them in the final strides for a photo finish.

"It was pretty close. It was a head bob," Castellano said. "It could have gone either way."

The photo showed it was Corporate Power by a nose over Gould's Gold on the rail, with Imperial Gun, between horses, a neck back in third. With the tight quarters, the stewards posted the inquiry sign, and Joel Rosario, aboard Imperial Gun, also claimed foul against the winner. The order of finish stood.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.98. The main track was officially rated muddy, and had been harrowed open just before the Sir Barton after being sealed earlier in the day.

After the top three, it was 4 1/2 lengths back to the next finisher, as Real Macho, Daily Grind, D Day Sky, Circle P, and Deposition rounded out the order of finish.

This was the second win in four career starts for Corporate Power, a Curlin colt bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Farm; he was a $925,000 yearling purchase by Courtlandt Farm out of the Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt finished fourth on debut on Jan. 27 at Gulfstream, but improved when moved to 1 1/8 miles in his next outing on Feb. 24, winning by a neck over Batten Down - who last month, broke his maiden rolling by 8 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs, defeating none other than Daily Grind in second.

In his first try against winners, on a sloppy, sealed Aqueduct track on April 12, Corporate Power was second by 1 1/4 lengths in an allowance/optional-claiming race, again going 1 1/8 miles.

McGaughey did not immediately name a next targeted race for Corporate Power.

“He’s not ready, I think, for the big boys," McGaughey said. "I think I’d like to race him one more time and face them in the fall.”

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