Lazaro Barrera Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds
Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes comes our way from Santa Anita in Arcadia, California this Saturday, May 10. Three year olds will be featured as they go seven furlongs on Santa Anita’s main track for the winner’s portion of the $100,000 purse.
A field of seven will line up in the Lazaro Barrera – race 7 on Santa Anita’s Saturday card. Post time is 4:00 PM. Let’s take a brief glance into the past performances of all seven entries for this Grade 3 stakes.
Kobe’s Back – won his career debut for trainer John Sadler – the 5 1/2 furlong Willard Proctor Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths but has been up and down since – an ugly tenth after clipping heels in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park December 14 followed a second to the highly regarded Shared Belief in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes November 19. He won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita February 16 in impressive style – by 5 1/4 lengths but fell back to earth in his next race – a seventh in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 15 – which officially took him off the Triple Crown trail. Last time out was an OK third as 13-10 favorite in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct April 5. Kobe’s Back will be looking to get back to his San Vicente form Saturday and is the likely favorite. Corey Nakatani has the call from post 3 in Kobe’s Back’s seventh stakes race in seven career starts. He is the 123 pound top weight this weekend.
Tonito M. – Puerto Rican sensation makes his North American debut for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer looking to add to his impressive three race win streak. Last time out was a win in the Grade 3 George Washington Stakes at Camarero February 16 after and Allowance score in January and a terrific win in the Grade 1 Classic Agustin Mercado Reveron in December. He has won six of his seven career starts with a second sandwiched in there – all at different distances – impressive indeed. Rafael Bejarano will be in the saddle from gate 2 in Tonito M’s much anticipated debut.
Puppy Manners – Jerry Hollendorfer trained colt will race for the eleventh time Saturday and is coming off her worst career effort – an eighth in the minor Pasadena Stakes here March 22 after a couple of OK fourths – in the minor California Derby January 18 and the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby two back at Golden Gate February 15. This after two straight wins at Golden Gate – an Allowance Optional Claiming December 29 and a MSW December 7. He has two wins, a second and a third place finish in 10 career starts and looks for a strong bounce back this week. Tyler Baze gets the mount from post 6 in Puppy Manners’ first start on dirt.
Lazaro Barrera Stakes betting at Santa Anita with OffTrackBetting.com
Ferocious – Ron Ellis pupil has just three career starts with two wins and a second place finish. He enters on a two race win streak – an Allowance Optional Claiming by 2 1/2 lengths last time out April 12 and a maiden score March 8 – both results on this track. He jumps into stakes company for the first time Saturday with Joe Talamo aboard from the rail.
Chelios – will make his stakes debut for trainer Tom Proctor. He broke maiden two back in his second career start and has finished second in his other two races – one coming last time out behind Ferocious in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track April 12. He will have the legend Gary Stevens in the reins from post 4 Saturday looking to make a little noise against higher competition.
Top Fortitude – has two career starts for trainer R. Kory Owens and is coming off an ugly tenth in and Allowance Optional Claiming here April 12 after breaking maiden at first asking – at Hollywood Park in November. Kayla Stra rides from the outside post Saturday.
Twenty Percent – will race for just the second time for trainer Doug O’Neill but his first start was a good one – a MSW score on this track March 22. Mike Smith has been tabbed to ride Twenty Percent in his big jump up in competition from post 5.
