More sports

Barbaro more tame than his fiery father

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 20, 2006

BALTIMORE - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has the utmost respect for Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner rated the even-money favorite to take the Preakness today at Pimlico.

"He's the best horse," he said. "An exceptional horse."

McLaughlin can't say the same about Dynaformer, Barbaro's daddy. They have a history, and it wasn't pretty. McLaughlin was an assistant trainer to D. Wayne Lukas during Dynaformer's racing career from 1987-89.

"He was the most difficult horse I ever trained," McLaughlin said. "You couldn't pull him up after a workout."

And you didn't turn your back on him. Dynaformer once bit off a groom's finger.

"He was mean," McLaughlin said. "He would bite. He was a monster."

Barbaro has several advantages over his sire. The Kentucky Derby victory easily outstrips Dynaformer's accomplishments on the racetrack. And, according to McLaughlin, Barbaro is much better looking.

"Dynaformer is ugly, one of the ugliest horses I ever was around," McLaughlin said. "He had a long head out to here and a big belly."

McLaughlin will bid for a Preakness upset when he sends out Like Now, 12-1 on the morning line.

George Steinbrenner, perhaps the most demanding owner in sports, will be represented by long shot Hemingway's Key.

Trainer Nick Zito laughed somewhat nervously when asked what Steinbrenner expects from his 30-1 shot.

"It's a good question," Zito said. "He's a sportsman. He's happy he's running. He'll be happy if he runs well."

A good run would be a form reversal for Hemingway's Key. The colt has not been competitive in any of his four races this year.

The decision to step up to the Preakness was made by Zito, with the blessing of Steinbrenner.

"I've got their backing," Zito said.

Zito sees the Preakness as a possible steppingstone for Hemingway's Key to the 11/2-mile Belmont Stakes on June 10.

"Winning here would be a real, real tough thing," Zito said. "If he just ran well, I'd be feeling happy about the Belmont."

Barbaro will try to buck Preakness history, as 22 of the last 25 winners have had two names, ranging from Pleasant Colony in 1981 to Afleet Alex last year. ... In Barbaro's favor: Five straight favorites have won the Preakness. ... The Preakness record for the 13/16 miles is 1:532/5 set by Tank's Prospect in 1985 and equaled by Louis Quatorze in 1996. ... Smarty Jones in 2004 had the biggest margin of victory at the Preakness, winning by 111/2 lengths. ... Edgar Prado, Barbaro's jockey, and Kent Desormeaux, who rides Sweetnorthernsaint, have the most experience at Pimlico. Desormeaux was the leading rider in Maryland from 1987-89 and Prado was the state's top rider from 1990-99.

[Last modified May 20, 2006, 01:58:12]