Friday's feature race at Saratoga was the $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2) for older horses going 1 1/8 mile on the inner turf course. A field of 10 went to post with the two horse coupled entry for Darley/Godolphin of Fourstardave Handicap winner Justenuffhumor and Colony sent off as the 9-10 favorite. In to challenge them included 3-1 second choice Cowboy Cal, third in the Fourstardave at Saratoga last out, and 6-1 third choice Seaspeak, winner of the Dallas Turf Cup at Lone Star earlier this year.
Seaspeak and Cowboy Cal battled for the lead first time past the stands and around the clubhouse turn through a quarter in 23.23 and a half in 46.94, with Kutais stalking them in third. Down the backstretch, Cowboy Cal opened up a 1 1/2 length lead on Seaspeak through 3/4 in 1:11.35. Entering the stretch, Cowboy Cal continued to lead, gaining a 2 length advantage on the tiring Seaspeak through 1 mile in 1:35.62. However, Justenuffhumor, who was as far back as 8th early, came out wide on the far turn and closed strongly down the center of the course to pass Cowboy Cal late to get the 1/2 length win a time of in 1:47.38 over the firm inner turf course. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Sette E Mezzo third.
