Speightstown, who finished in the top 10 on the 2014 General Sire list with 16 stakes winners, started off the new year with splash when Barbados sped to a three-length score in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid S. Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Breaking very alertly from post 8, Luis Saez got Barbados in a good spot just a couple lengths off the lead set by It’s Not Me. The pacesetter blazed a half-mile in :44.91 with Ready for Rye in close pursuit. The latter took over the top spot in upper stretch, with Barbados looming boldly on the outside. Just inside the furlong marker, Barbados powered to the lead and won going away.
The final time of 1:09.40 earned the 3-year-old colt a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 95.
“This colt is so intelligent, said trainer Mike Tomlinson. “He just laid off and let the speed go on. When it’s time to push the button, he’ll go. I’m just real proud of him.
“Physically, his body type tells you sprint,” continued Tomlinson, as he talked about future plans. “But the bottom side of his pedigree is Street Cry, which should be able to go on down the racetrack, so we’ll give him the opportunity later on and see what happens.”
Barbados was purchased by Tomlinson on behalf of Suzanne Stables for $340,000 out of the WinStar dispersal at the 2014 Keeneland November sale. The colt is now 2-1-0 in four starts and has earned $113,650. He was bred in Kentucky by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is out of the stakes-winning mare Northern Station.
