Barnes has plenty to live up to: his $3.2 million price tag, his Triple Crown-winning damsire American Pharoah , and being named for trainer Bob Baffert's longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes. The colt came through spectacularly in his stakes debut, the Jan. 4 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, romping by 5 1/2 lengths.
Though Barnes faced only four rivals in the seven-furlong San Vicente, they brought good credentials. Bullard already had a graded stakes on his résumé, the Nov. 17 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar, and he and Barnes vied for favoritism right up to the post time. Ultimately, Barnes went off as the even-money favorite, with Bullard at 11-10.
When the gate opened, multiple graded stakes-placed McKinzie Street flew to the front. He stepped through swift fractions of :22.65 for a quarter-mile and :45.10 for a half-mile. But Barnes never let him get away, racing head and head with the pacesetter for jockey Juan Hernandez.
Though the quick fractions would eventually tell on McKinzie Street, Barnes was just getting into gear. Baffert's other runner, Romanesque, made a run at the top pair into the turn, but McKinzie Street and Barnes pulled away. Barnes passed McKinzie Street deep in the turn, lengthened his stride with ease, and began what would become a total domination.
Barnes looked completely worthy of price tag, damsire, and namesake as he galloped home on his own, getting the seven furlongs in 1:22.15 and demonstrating that he should revel in the increased distances no doubt coming his way. Romanesque finished second to give Baffert the exacta, followed by Bullard, Smooth Cruisein, and McKinzie Street.
"He's really good—I love him," said Hernandez. "He was aggressive down the backside, but he's still learning how to run. I like him because around the quarter pole he got off the bridle and was kind of looking around a little bit. But when I corrected him, he came back to me. I was really surprised how he finished today."
This was Barnes' second start, his first coming at 5 1/2 furlongs Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs, when he scored by a head.
"He had a rough trip, shipping, and I knew 5 1/2 was going to be tough," said Baffert. "But he moved way up mentally after that. He's beautiful—a powerful horse. That was a good race. The second out is the most important for these horses. That's when you know."
Though the San Vicente does not offer points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Baffert has used it successfully in the past, notably with Silver Charm in 1997. Baffert has won the race 14 times, including the last three consecutive editions. Hernandez has ridden all three horses, including Muth in 2024 and Havnameltdown in 2023. The jockey has won the past four San Vicentes, having also piloted Forbidden Kingdom in 2022 for trainer Richard Mandella.
Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing Stables owns Barnes, buying him for $3.2 million in 2023 at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale via bloodstock agent Donato Lanni. It was the second-highest price of the sale.
"I'm happy for Amr because he really had to stretch to get this horse," Baffert said. "Everybody asked, 'Why did he cost so much?' He looked like that as a yearling. And he looks like American Pharoah."
Baffert trained American Pharoah, who won the 2015 Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and was named Horse of the Year that season. American Pharoah was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.
Jeff Drown and Don Rachel bred Barnes in Kentucky from the American Pharoah mare All American Dream. Though she started only twice, racing for Drown and Rachel, All American Dream is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Wind Fire and stakes-placed Bloodline. Barnes' third dam is millionaire Dream Supreme. He is All American Dream's first foal.
Barnes is by Into Mischief , who just earned his sixth North American leading general sire title. Citizen Bull, Gina Romantica, Laurel River, Leslie's Rose, and Newgate are 2024 grade 1 winners sired by Into Mischief, who is scheduled to stand the 2025 season for $250,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington.
