By Don Agriss Aug 28, 2006, 16:30 GMT
Philadelphia, PA - The 2006 class of three-year-old thoroughbreds can now be rated as excellent. Bernardini's runaway victory in the Travers Stakes puts him at the top of his generation among active three- year-olds.
Imagine what type of rivalry there could have been if Barbaro had not suffered his career ending injury in the Preakness Stakes. Bernardini and Barbaro may have reminded racing fans of Affirmed and Alydar.
Thankfully, Barbaro is continuing to recover from his injuries and illness at the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania. His chances of making a full recovery continue to increase in his favor.
Bernardini is easily the top three-year-old racing on dirt and is on his way to winning the Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old of 2006. If he continues to win through the Breeders' Cup Classic, Bernardini could very well be named Horse of the Year.
Trainer Tom Albertrani was an assistant to Bill Mott, who trained Hall of Famer Cigar. 'I put Bernardini in that category with a horse like Cigar and Dubai Millennium,' Albertrani said of is first Travers winner. 'This horse is only a three-year-old and he hasn't even hit his best stride. There's more to come from this horse as he gets older.
'Horse of the Year, we still have one or two races to tackle before we could get to see this horse become Horse of the Year. I would say now people are going to have to take him into consideration as three-year-old of the year.'
Bernardini is expected to race one more time, in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, on his way to Churchill Downs and the Classic.
'A horse like this is great for racing,' Albertrani said. 'Cigar got a lot of attention from the nation and, hopefully, this horse might, too. I think it's great for the sport when you see people come out and watch a horse like this compete.'
However, it is not just Barbaro and Bernardini that make this generation's top notch. Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Showing Up has won all but one start. His last two starts were on the turf where he is the leading three-year-old grass runner.
The Jacksons and the medical team from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School will be recognized by the National Turf Writers Association.
'Team Barbaro', the group of Barbaro himself, owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, trainer Michael Matz, assistant trainer and exercise rider Peter Brette, and jockey Edgar Prado, will receive the Mr. Fitz Award during the 47th annual NTWA Awards Dinner on November 1 at The Olmstead in Louisville, Kentucky.
Dr. Dean Richardson and the New Bolton Center will receive the Joe Palmer Award, named for the former New York Herald Tribune Turf Writer and presented annually for meritorious service to racing.
The now retired Bluegrass Cat deserves recognition for making the three-year- olds of 2006 an excellent class. His victory in the Haskell Invitational along with second place finishes in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Travers Stakes make Bluegrass Cat worthy of praise.
'This horse was just coming into his own. Bluegrass Cat was bringing his game to a whole new level coming off his performance in the Haskell. It is quite disappointing that his career has come to an end. He was a very special horse,' said trainer Todd Pletcher.
This past Saturday night Lawyer Ron came back from a three month layoff to win the inaugural running of the St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park. Lawyer Ron, along with Barbaro, was the second choice in the morning line for the Kentucky Derby. He is also being pointed toward the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 4.
Barbaro, Bernardini, Showing Up, Bluegrass Cat and Lawyer Ron help make the three-year-old class of 2006 an excellent one.
© 2006 The Sports Network
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