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 Saturday, December 8, 2007

  Aqueduct, Race 2, Msw, 53,000, 2yo, 1m, 1:39 3/5, ft

  Barrier Reef, C, 2, by Mizzen Mast

1st Dam: Partyship, by Premiership

2nd Dam: Party’s On Me, by Stevedore

3rd Dam: Pardon My Speed, by *The Solicitor II

Barrier Reef, a $90,000 KEESEP yearling who matured into a $350,000 BESMAR juvenile, showed great promise in his Nov. 8 debut going seven panels over the Aqueduct main track. Sent off at 21-1, the half-brother to Artic Party (Eskimo), SP, $323,397, came flying up the rail in the lane, but was forced to take up before rallying once again. He wound up third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by He’s Solid Gold (video). The grey colt went postward as the 2-1 second choice this time, but had his backers sweating before finally coming through. After holding the start up and breaking a bit slowly, Barrier Reef had some trouble with the short run to the first turn and wound up blowing it, winding up near the back of the pack. He found his rhythm on the backstretch and moved into contention with a sharp wide move on the far turn. Favored Hedgefund Investor (Tale of the Cat) cornered looking like a winner, but the Darley colt shifted into another gear and reeled in the front-runner on his way to an eventful 1 1/2-length graduation. Hedgefund Investor, who had a 5 1/2-length advantage at the eighth pole, was well clear of the others at the wire. The winner’s half-sister by Kafwain was purchased for $200,000 by Jay Em Ess Stable at Keeneland September. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $37,000.

Click for the race video. 

O: Darley Stable | B: Matthew R Herbener (KY) | T: Thomas Albertrani