Barb’s Comfort(IRE) takes Festive Brook Special with a bullet

Barb’s Comfort(IRE) shook off his last Virginia performance to gain a thrilling victory in this week’s Festive Brook Special. This is his third victory in a row, all stakes, including a Grade II effort. It pushes his earnings for his fifteen career starts to just shy of the $400000 mark, and gives him six wins in eight turf route starts. This translates to a number fifteen ranking among three year old colts in the Turf Classic Division, with a good portion of his career still in front of him.

Pretty much as projected, Z Dancer shot out of the gate to the early lead. Music Phyl Please kept him honest for the first couple of furlongs, but Z Dancer didn’t really face an early challenge. He had opened up three lengths on the field by the half, and showed no signs of flagging in the second half, tacking on another two and a quarter lengths by the time they were ready to turn for home. None of the midpack closers fired, and it looked like he was going to cruise down the stretch. Barb’s Comfort(IRE), though, from a well out eleven and a half lengths at the half, was a rocket down the last two calls, passing Z Dancer with the wire in sight, looking like he could run all day long. He took it by two at the wire, with Z Dancer grabbing second place. Saratoga Sojourn also made a game closing effort in the second half, passing the flagging competition and outlasting the rest to take third place, seven and a half out at the wire.