June 08, 2008|By Sandra McKee | Sandra McKee,Sun REPORTER
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was catastrophically injured in the 2006 Preakness, two-time European champion George Washington had to be euthanized after breaking a leg in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic, and second-place finisher Eight Belles had to be euthanized after the filly shattered both her front ankles in this year's Derby.
"He was keen to go early on," Desormeaux said. "He broke so hard. I got him out early and just cantered down the backside. A couple of times he thought it was time to go and jumped into the bridle. But [when asked] I had no horse, and when I realized something was wrong, I knew he wouldn't be fifth.
"He's the best horse I've ever been on, so I took care of him."
sandra.mckee@baltsun.com
The race at a glance
The top finishers:
Horse Jockey
1. Da' Tara Alan Garcia
2. Denis of Cork Robby Albarado
*3. Anak Nakal Julien Leparoux
*3. Ready's Echo John Velazquez
*dead heat Time: 2:29.65 Margin of victory: 5 1/4 lengths Winning trainer: Nick Zito Money: Da' Tara paid $79, $28 and $14.80. Denis of Cork paid $5.40 and $4.10. Anak Nakal paid $7.60 and Ready's Echo paid $6.20. The exacta paid $659 and the triple paid $3,703 (with Anak Nakal) and $3,954 (with Ready's Echo).
Inside
Notebook: Desormeaux never had a clue what was coming. PG 7D
