Michael Matz had horses win the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Distaff this year, but is unlikely to see either Barbaro or Round Pond crowned champion in their respective divisions.
Bernardini's second-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic isn't likely to enhance Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's chances of being crowned 3-year-old champion, Matz said. Bernardini won the Preakness, Jim Dandy, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup before finishing second to Invasor in the Classic.
"I'm obviously prejudiced, but I think it would probably be a little hard for them to give Barbaro champion 3-year-old and not Bernardini," Matz said. "It'd be nice if they could be joint 3-year-old champions, but I don't know if that could be possible and I don't think you could give Bernardini nothing for campaigning all year. Bernardini campaigned all year. He was second to Invasor; it wasn't like he ran a bad race."
Similarly, Matz said he doesn't think Round Pond, his Breeders' Cup Distaff winner, can get champion older mare over Fleet Indian, the multiple Grade 1 winner who was injured in the race.
"The resume of Fleet Indian probably stands for a lot," Matz said. "If she wouldn't have gotten hurt, it would have been a different story.''
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