It was an exciting juvenile winner for Zedan Racing on Wednesday when our $3.2 million Into Mischief colt BARNES won on debut at Churchill Downs.

Registering multiple bullets in the last month at Santa Anita before shipping to Kentucky, BARNES was primed and ready to impress in his 5 ½ furlong introduction to racing.

Going off as the heavy favorite, BARNES was hustled out of the gate by Martin Garcia before taken back to sit just off a determined leader. Dealing with traffic from his rail spot, he didn’t find clear sailing until the stretch when he’d been shuffled back a bit farther from the lead.

Despite the challenges, BARNES closed strongly to win by a head with only one horse within 10 ½ lengths of him at the line.

“Hopefully, we will keep him healthy and hopefully we are here the first Saturday in May,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Donato Lanni signed the ticket on behalf of Zedan at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale when the colt sold for the second highest price behind only another Zedan purchase. BARNES is the first foal out of American Pharoah daughter All American Dream, whose half-sister is the stakes winner and multiple Group 2-placed Wind Fire and to the dam of Grade 3 winner Shidabhuti.

BARNES’s third dam is the great dual Grade 1 winner Dream Supreme, who also produced Grade 1 winner Majestic Warrior among her five stakes performers.

BARNES provided Zedan Racing with its eighth 2024 winner with the group also including Grade 1 winner MUTH and Grade 3 winner and Grade 2 placed juvenile NOONI.