Breeding & Racing Magazine

Barathea Adds US Black-Type

Former Widden Stud shuttler Barathea (Sadler's Wells-Brocade, by Habitat) added a US black-type success when evergreen UK-bred 9YO gelding Always First (Barathea-Pink Cristal, by Dilum) scored a 1-length victory in the US$70,000 Listed John's Call Stakes (13 furlongs on turf) for 4YOs & up at Saratoga. Always First (ridden by Robby Albarado for trainer Thomas Voss) defeated Canadian-bred 4YO entire Perfect Shower (Perfect Soul-Showering, by Miswaki) & Irish-bred 4YO gelding Coolcullen Times (Rock Of Gibraltar-Key To Coolcullen, by Royal Academy). Always First was a 200,000 guineas (A$360,000) yearling at the 2002 UK Tattersalls Houghton Sale. Overall he now has 9 wins (also including 2008's Gr3 Sycamore Stakes over 12 furlongs at Keeneland, plus both 2007's Gr3 Stars And Stripes Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap over 12 furlongs at Arlington Park & Listed Cape Henlopen Stakes over 12 furlongs at Delaware Park, as well as 2006's Listed Cape Henlopen Stakes over 12 furlongs at Delaware Park & 2005's Gr2 Sunset Breeders' Cup Handicap over 12 furlongs at Hollywood Park) & 8 placings (including 2008's Gr2 McKnight Handicap over 12 furlongs at Calder, plus 2007's Gr3 Louisville Handicap over 12 furlongs at Churchill Downs & Gr3 Elkhorn Stakes over 12 furlongs at Keeneland, as well as 2006's Gr3 Sycamore Stakes over 12 furlongs at Keeneland) from 32 starts for US$686,190 earnings.