Barnes

Barnes made his career debut under high-profile circumstances as a 2-year-old on Nov. 27, 2024, when he became the first horse from trainer Bob Baffert to be entered at Churchill Downs after a three-year absence. Barnes delivered with a fast but hard-fought maiden win going 5 1/2 furlongs atop a 10-horse field.

Barnes entered stakes company for the first time in his second lifetime start, which was his 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes going seven furlongs on Jan. 4, 2025, at Santa Anita. Sent off as the even-money favorite in a field of five in the San Vicente, Barnes sped to the lead and dueled for the first half of the race until establishing the clear lead and coasting to a decisive 5 1/2-length win.

Barnes was sent off as the 2-5 favorite in a five-horse field in his next start, which came in the Grade 2 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on March 1. Barnes took the lead from the start and maintained the advantage until deep stretch when passed in the late stages by the fast-moving Journalism and was forced to settle for second by 1 3/4 lengths. The San Felipe was Barnes' first race on the road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby points series, and with his runner-up finish in a five-horse field, Barnes earned 18.75 qualifying points. Barnes subsequently finished fifth and last in the Grade 1 $500,000 Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on April 5.

Barnes was a $3.2 million yearling purchase by Zedan Racing. He was bred by the sire Into Mischief out of the mare All American Dream by American Pharoah.