Jeiron Barbosa notches three victories

LAUREL, MD—The champ is back, bigger than ever.

“He grew at the withers and filled out a little bit,” trainer Henry Walters said of Barbadian Runner after the Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male of 2025 returned to the winner’s circle at Laurel Park on Saturday in the feature, a high-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

A stronger, more mature Barbadian Runner?

That should instill some fear in the local handicap corps.

Barbadian Runner, the reigning Maryland Million Classic hero, made his seasonal debut at Charles Town on May 8 in a seven-furlong, two-turn allowance race. He gave his usual bang-up effort, rallying resolutely in the stretch, but a slow pace set by the classy Petingas Twin left him a neck shy at the wire.

Trainer Anthony Farrior pulled off the Charles Town upset with Petingas Twin and sought a similar result at Laurel with the speedy Indy Charges On, who was projected to set the pace in Saturday’s five-horse field.

Indeed, Indy Charges On took the lead and cleared to a two-length advantage through an opening quarter in 24.64 seconds. Barbadian Runner broke kindly under Forest Boyce, however, and never let the pacesetter off the hook.

Barbadian Runner inched closer after a half-mile in 49.67 seconds, was scrubbed by Boyce to attack Indy Charges On after a six-furlong clocking of 1:14.48, then drove home to prevail by five lengths in 1:51.18 on the fast track.

"He's not a push-button horse where you ask him, and he takes off,” Walters said. “He takes a little urging, and once he gets into a rhythm, he goes after them."

Indy Charges On finished second, five lengths ahead of Union Fleet. Crossland and Margie’s Fun Son completed the order of finish.

Barbadian Runner returned $2.60 to win as the prohibitive favorite in the betting.

“He was a little more tucked up for this race than when I ran him at Charles Town,” Walters said. “I guess the one race tuned him up.”

Barbadian Run, a gelded son of Barbados out of Quiet Run by Northern Afleet, was bred in Maryland by Shamrock Farm and purchased by AJ Will Win Stables for $5,000 as a yearling.

The Cinderella story has now earned $857,050, with eight wins from 22 starts, including four stakes wins at Laurel, one at Charles Town, and one at Monmouth Park.

“We were just hoping to get a decent Maryland-bred that would be competitive at any level,” Walters said after Barbadian Runner took the Richard W. Small Stakes at Laurel on November 22. “You don’t expect a whole lot when you have modest money you’re spending.”

Barbadian Runner is considered a throwback horse, as he raced without a break of more than 45 days between his career debut, a fourth-place finish on June 30, 2024, and his second-place run behind graded stakes winner Post Time in the Robert T. Manfuso Stakes on December 20, 2025.

Barbadian Runner has triumphed at distances ranging from 5 ½ furlongs to 1 1/8 miles on both wet and fast tracks.

Walters believes Barbadian Runner’s determination is one of his best qualities, but the veteran trainer also marvels at how the gelding trains.

“[It’s] the way he relaxes and just breathes effortlessly,” Walters said admiringly. “Watching him gallop, he has a rhythm to his breathing where he's not stressed.”

Walters didn’t hesitate long when asked about Barbadian Runner’s next major goal. He mentioned the $100,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on June 27.

"He's never disappointed me one time,” Walters concluded. “Everything he's ever done, he rises to the occasion."

*Jeiron Barbosa notches three victories

On a circuit full of hot riders, Jeiron Barbosa might be the hottest of them all.

Fresh off a riding double on Friday afternoon, Barbosa booted home three more winners on Saturday.

A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Barbosa gave West Mountain ($18.80) a lovely ride in the day’s opening race for trainer Caitlin Keil. West Mountain saved ground in the pocket, eased outside for room, and stormed down the stretch to win by a nose over pacesetting Freedom Glider.

Two races later, Barbosa’s patience paid off aboard Don’t Tell Kelly ($11) for trainer Kenny Cox. Don’t Tell Kelly didn’t break well, but Barbosa maneuvered him to the inside on the backstretch before swinging wide into the stretch.

Barbosa concluded his successful afternoon with a rallying victory on Siege of Boston ($7.40) for trainer Jimmy Toner.

Barbosa, 22, was one of three finalists for the Eclipse Award for champion apprentice jockey in 2022. That year, he captured the Laurel Park spring meet with 20 victories, tied with Angel Cruz for top honors at the Laurel fall meet with 44 wins, and won the Pimlico fall meet with 12 wins.

In 2023, Barbosa repeated as champion rider at the Pimlico Fall Meeting.

At the current Laurel meet, Barbosa has won nine times in 30 starts and is four wins behind the leader, apprentice rider Yedsit Hazlewood.

*Around the track:

Another Maryland Million winner scored on Saturday. Slewperstitius, who won the Maryland Million Lassie last year, rallied from off the pace under Jevian Toledo to win the fourth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies at 5 ½ furlongs. Trained by Robbie Bailes for owner Eric Rizer, Slewperstitius has never been off the board in eight starts and is targeting the summer meet at Colonial Downs.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race card featuring two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout. The first race is at 12 pm ET.

The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It provides picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias info, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Sunday’s guide is available. Click here to view it.

Join us next Saturday for the “Belmont Stakes Watch Party” at Laurel Park. Gates open at 10:45 AM, and advance wagering on the full card is available at Saratoga. Enjoy food and drink specials, six Grade 1 races from Saratoga, including the third jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, and action-packed live racing at Laurel Park. For more information, visit here.

Tickets are available for “Tacos & Margaritas at Laurel Park” on Sunday, June 7, between 1 PM and 4 pm. Enjoy great food, exciting live racing, and a relaxing social atmosphere. For menu and ticket information, visit here.

Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.

Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club X account. Click here to watch.