The $100,000 Barbaro Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the main track drew a compact field of just 5 three-year-olds. Da' Tara set the pace of 24.63, 47.80, and 1:10.79 saving ground on the rail while being stalked by favorite Roman Emperor around the clubhouse turn and down the backstretch. Entering the stretch, Roman Emperor moved up to challenge, setting up a duel for the stretch. Roman Emperor pushed ahead by 1/2 a length in mid-stretch and held off the pacesetter in the final strides to prevail by 1/2 a length in a time of 1:42.10. It was a long 3 1/4 lengths back to Spurrier in third.
Winning jockey Jeremy Rose said, "They tried to slow it down a little bit in front of me. I got a hole to go in and moved out. I got up on that horse in the last part of the race and my horse was just faster than him."
Trainer Steve Klesaris added, "The race went perfect for us. It was a little tight down the stretch, but it turned out perfectly. We're not sure where we're going to run next."
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