Librado Barocio could refine his victory celebrations. Learning composure is essential.
The joyous trainer momentarily succumbed to exhilaration when Lovesick Blues, at odds of 18-1, achieved an unexpected victory in the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on July 26, thereby securing an automatic invitation to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 1.
Christine, Barocio’s spouse, inadvertently became a recipient of her husband’s overwhelming excitement after the 7-year-old California-bred gelding surged from the rear to overtake Hejazi by a margin of 1 ¾ lengths.
The 60-year-old trainer marked his inaugural Grade 1 victory by lifting his wife, spinning her in a circle multiple times, and embracing her tightly to commemorate a moment on par with the arrival of their three offspring.
“Put me down!” she exclaimed. “Put me down!”
“I believe I was embracing her a bit too firmly,” he mused in retrospect.
All was quickly forgiven, of course. Barocio is an exceedingly devoted husband to his wife of 32 years and a loving father to Alyssa, Librado II, and Michela. He competes under the banner of My Familia Racing Stable, and as the name implies, his life centers around family. It was profoundly meaningful to him that approximately 30 family members witnessed Lovesick Blues stage a remarkable comeback to secure an opportunity to compete against the swiftest contenders at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
“To share this journey with loved ones and create enduring memories is very emotional for me because it was extraordinary,” Barocio expressed. “Everything I undertake is for the benefit of my family.”
He struggled to contain his emotions as he recounted the exceptional performance. After acquiring the idiosyncratic gelding from breeder Nick Alexander in a private transaction last autumn, he taught him to conserve his energy early in races. The offspring of California sire Grazen settled into a comfortable rhythm under the guidance of regular jockey Geovanni Franco, while Hejazi, a $3.55 million acquisition by Zedan Racing Stables under the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, maintained a steady lead.
Barocio was confident that Lovesick Blues would unleash a powerful surge in the six-furlong contest and patiently awaited that moment.
“As we approached the midpoint of the turn,” he recounted, “I observed, ‘He’s making a move.’ ”
The gelding rapidly began to overtake competitors in the nine-horse field. The trainer initially anticipated a fourth-place finish, similar to his performance in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on June 14 at Santa Anita in his prior start.
Franco, confident in the horse’s capabilities, guided his mount wide. Barocio could scarcely believe what he was witnessing.
“I watched him accelerate and exclaimed, ‘He’s going to win!’ It was a truly surreal experience,” he recollected.
It was the kind of event he believed might never occur for him, as he typically oversees a small string of around 10 horses and pursues diverse interests. He pursued history at UCLA with intentions to study law. Ultimately, he diverged significantly from that path. He has been involved in the production and/or direction of approximately a dozen films. He garnered significant success and is best known for the 1997 boxing documentary “Champions Forever: The Latin Legends.”
At the racetrack, Barocio is recognized for his expertise with older horses, most of whom are claimers.
“He has an aptitude for revitalizing older, seasoned horses and restoring their former class,” noted Don Chatlos, a former trainer who has provided invaluable guidance as a mentor.
Barocio realized the importance of physical conditioning during his time as a safety at UCLA. Although injuries ultimately curtailed his aspiration of playing in the NFL, he never forgot the lessons learned during his playing career.
“His approach is somewhat unconventional because of his background as an athlete,” Chatlos, currently OXO Equine’s racing manager, observed. “He played football at UCLA, so his approach to these horses is as athletes.”
Barocio employs a gentle approach with his older horses. He goes above and beyond standard practices to ensure their happiness and well-being. In the case of Lovesick Blues, he essentially allows the veteran to dictate his own terms.
“Everyone treats him with affection,” the trainer emphasized. “He knows he’s in charge.”
Lovesick Blues performs at his peak in the early morning, so he is consistently among the first horses to visit the track. He insists on being accompanied by a pony or he may halt and await a companion. He is easily startled by sudden movements, so everyone around him exercises caution.
Whatever it takes to prevent Lovesick Blues from feeling down. He has significantly rewarded his new barn, securing two victories in five starts, along with a second and a third-place finish, accumulating earnings of $338,000, all achieved this season.
He had exclusively raced on turf for Barocio before Franco suggested a transition to dirt for the Bing Crosby. Throughout his career, the gray or roan California-bred boasts nine wins in 41 starts, accompanied by 10 runner-up finishes and eight third-place finishes, amassing total earnings of $770,000.
Barocio emphasized that Lovesick Blues has a history of performing well when fresh. Consequently, he intends to prepare him leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. This race will present a significant challenge for a runner who had not previously won a graded stakes prior to the Crosby.
Chatlos believes he has a chance.
“Everyone will have to travel there. He gets to compete from his familiar surroundings. I believe this provides Lovesick Blues with an advantage,” he stated. “He will be present and has already secured a victory over the track.”
Barocio believes his likely Sprint longshot has a shot.
“He’s a resilient horse with a tremendous heart,” he remarked.
If the improbable should occur, Christine Barocio should exercise caution.
