Barbaro stars in Derby documentary The First Saturday in May
Written by Gohorsepower.com
Tuesday, 06 February 2007
Film-making brothers John and Brad Hennegan followed the trainers of six horses chasing the Derby trail in 2006, and were lucky enough that one of those horses actually won the Kentucky Derby--Barbaro trained by Michael Matz.
Trainer Michael Matz introduces his son to Barbaro.
The documentary, named after the traditional day the Kentucky Derby is run every year, chronicles six of last year's hopefuls for the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby: Matz and undefeated Barbaro; Dan Hendricks and Santa Anita Derby winner Brother Derek; Bob Holthus and Arkansas Derby winner Lawyer Ron; Kiaran McLaughlin and Jazil; Frank Amonte Jr. and Achilles of Troy; and Dale Romans and Sharp Humor, the colt who gave Barbaro his toughest stretch run in the Florida Derby.
What an exciting year of Derby contenders to capture on film. Not only did it end up being one of the best fields of Derby runners, but there was a lot of character and emotion to be found in the stories of the men who trained these equine athletes.
Achilles of Troy was a lifelong dream come true for 47-year-old Brooklyn native Frank Amonte Jr. , whos father was the oldest jockey to win a race, at age 69. Achilles of Troy had won the Whirl Away and Count Fleet. "Every night for the past week I go to sleep thinking about him winning the Gotham, the Wood and the Derby", Amonte Jr. said, " Wow.'' Unfortunately Achilles was pulled-up lame at the Gotham Stakes--a horrifying moment for everyone. It turned out to be a soft-tissue injury, and it endied the colt's career for the rest of 2006. ( The horse is now healthy and starting his four-year-old campaign under trainer Alan Klanfer).
Trainer Dan Hendricks grew up riding motorcycles with his brother. In 2004 an accident at a motorcross track left him paralyzed from the waist down. The classy colt he trained, Brother Derek, was an early Derby favorite throughout 2006 preps, but drew post 18 at Louisville and lost a shoe in the race. They managed to fight their way up to share fourth-place.
Kiaran McLaughlin has been living with Multiple Sclerosis since 1998. His athlete, Jazil, was a deep-stretch runner who managed to close-in for fourth and share the Derby's first dead-heat ever with Brother Derek. After Derby 132, Jazil would skip the Preakness and win the Belmont Stakes in June.
Although the Hennegan's film is not just about Barbaro, the film does climax with the Kentucky Derby and Barbaro's dramatic victory. The Preakness tragedy that ended Barbaro's career is also portrayed. They ended up with about 40-50 hours of Barbaro on film and have said they will pursue a Barbaro documentary.
