Bobby C. Barnett

Grew up in northeast Louisiana and began match racing at age 12 for his father Ernie, also a horse trainer … Worked for three years as assistant trainer in California to D. Wayne Lukas whom he had met when both were involved with Quarter Horses … Training Career: Briefly trained Quarter Horses before taking out his first Thoroughbred license in 1985 … Long-time trainer for the late John Franks, a four-time Eclipse Award winner as top owner … Managed the Franks homebred Answer Lively to Eclipse Award as top 2-year-old in 1998, the year he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile … Based year-round in Louisiana and Arkansas until late 1990s when he moved to Louisville and moved his base of operations to Kentucky … Has won numerous training titles at Churchill Downs, Louisiana Downs and Oaklawn Park … Inducted into Fair Grounds Hall of Fame in 2000 … Won with six straight starters over two days at Oaklawn in 1997, including victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap with Halo America … Other stakes winners trained have included Fantasticat, J J'sdream, Precocity, Silent Eskimo, Littlebitlively, Parisian Flight, Clearly a Queen, Charlie's Beau and Zuppardo Ardo … In addition to winning the 1998 Juvenile with Answer Lively, Barnett has saddled three other Breeders' Cup starters. Among the horses in his stable this year are Elusive Jazz and Quick Temper, runner-up in the Arlington Matron Handicap.