Barnes Blows Them Away in the Perryville

Zedan Racing's Barnes (c, 3, Into Mischief–All American Dream, by American Pharoah), a $3.2-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, has always been heavy on promise, but perhaps lighter than hoped on actual visits to the winner's circle. That changed Saturday in Keeneland's GIII Perryville Stakes when the bay sophomore left no doubt as to his prowess with a 8 1/4-length tour de force over the Lexington oval.

With just five to post in the Perryville, it was recent Churchill allowance winner Taylor's Version (Into Mischief) who set the :21.69 first quarter pace. Shadowed from the outset by Barnes, who hounded him and poked a head in front as the pair registered a :44.18 half, Taylor's Version proved no match for the winner, but neither did anyone else. The Bob Baffert trainee and 8-5 second choice overwhelmed his rivals by mid-turn, pouring it on down the lane to win by open daylight under nothing more than a mild drive. He got the Perryville's seven furlongs in 1:23.45. GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes second Captain Cook (Practical Joke), a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' who finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Barnes in the Jerkens, was second, while this spring's GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty (Speightstown) finished third.

“In the [Jerkens] at Saratoga, around the three-eighths pole he wanted to go and I was behind a wall of horses, so I had to wait,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz. “He's a big horse; it took him a while to get going. I feel like he was the best horse that day.

“Today I talked to Bob [Baffert] earlier, and he wanted me to break out of there very aggressive and put him forward. The horse helped me and I did just that. He finished the race running. I was very happy with the performance. He was ready today.”

Bred in Kentucky by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, Barnes has never shied from top company. He broke his maiden on debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs last November at Churchill, then reappeared in early January to take the GII San Vicente Stakes. Runner-up to Journalism (Curlin) in the GII DK Horse San Felipe Stakes in March with his highest career Beyer Speed Figure (105), he tried Journalism again in the GI Santa Anita Derby, finishing fifth. Freshened until that third behind 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Patch Adams (Into Mischief) in the Jerkens in August, he was last seen finishing fourth in the GII Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Sept. 20.

Pedigree Notes:

Six-time leading sire Into Mischief, poised to add to his titles this year and the cornerstone of Spendthrift's stallion barn, is the sire of Barnes and 89 other graded winners, as well as 180 other black-type winners. Barnes is also one of two stakes winners out of daughters of American Phaorah, the Coolmore America stallion who will shuttle to Japan for the 2026 Northern Hemisphere breeding season.

Barnes is the first foal out of All American Dream, a member of her Triple Crown-winning sire's first crop. The unplaced mare had a second seven-figure yearling this year, again at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, when her filly by Flightline sold to West Point Thoroughbreds for $1.1 million. Her 2-year-old–a colt by Essential Quality named All American Boy–did not go through the sales ring and is working at Turfway toward his first start. All American Dream delivered a full-brother to Barnes this year and was bred back to Into Mischief again for 2026. The young mare is a granddaughter of MGISW Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold), whose runners included 2007 GI Hopeful Stakes winner and sire Majestic Warrior (A.P. Indy).

No one could match with BARNES ($5.22) in the $350,000 Perryville Stakes (G3) at @KeenelandRacing. @jose93_ortiz was up on the @BobBaffert trainee. The 3YO colt is by @spendthriftfarm's Into Mischief.

The late Pick 4 is right now: https://t.co/0B8c3g81GL pic.twitter.com/JqahJnB7Pq

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) October 18, 2025

Saturday, Keeneland
PERRYVILLE S.-GIII, $350,000, Keeneland, 10-18, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.45, ft.
1–BARNES, 123, c, 3, by Into Mischief
              1st Dam: All American Dream, by American Pharoah
              2nd Dam: A. P. Dream, by A.P. Indy
              3rd Dam: Dream Supreme, by Seeking the Gold
($3,200,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.;
B-Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Jose
Ortiz. $217,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 7-3-1-1, $557,750.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Captain Cook, 118, c, 3, Practical Joke–Pow Wow Wow, by
Indian Charlie. ($410,000 2yo '24 KEENOV). O-St. Elias
Stable; B-Marylou Whitney Stables, LLC (KY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' $70,000.
3–Owen Almighty, 118, c, 3, Speightstown–Tempers Rising,
by Bayern. ($360,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $350,000 Ylg '23
FTSAUG). O-Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC;
B-Mark Stanley (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $35,000.
Margins: 8 1/4, 4HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 1.61, 0.95, 6.52.
Also Ran: Rolando, Taylor's Version. Scratched: Gaming.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.