I Will Score Game in Barrera Victory

Off the Triple Crown trail and back at arguably his best distance sprinting, Hans Poetsch's homebred I Will Score broke through for his first graded stakes win in the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera (gr. III) May 14 at Santa Anita Park. 

The Roman Ruler colt looked like he may be bound for a Run for the Roses after a third-place finish in the Robert B. Lewis (gr. III) in February, but was derailed by a sixth-place finish in the San Felipe (gr. II) and shipped to Oaklawn Park for a second-place run in the Bachelor Stakes April 15.

But he was game in victory Saturday. He raced on the front through most of the seven-furlong dirt test and held off a late drive from stakes winner Mrazek to prevail by a neck.

I Will Score broke on top, but actually trailed after the first quarter in :22.62, when the slow-breaking Smokey Image rushed up to put a head in front. I Will Score regained command after a half-mile in :44.66, opened up a 1 1/2 length lead in the stretch before he hit six furlongs in 1:08.83, and outlasted his rival to the wire in 1:21.30 under jockey Martin Garcia.

"My horse broke really sharp, so I took advantage," Garcia said.

"I wanted him to get away from the gate good, which he did," winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. "Martin thought they were going a bit fast, so he took hold of him, to save horse. They got up and finished it."

The winner paid $8.80, $4.40, and $3.20 across the board. Mrazek brought $3.60 and $3, and Smokey Image—who tired but edged maiden winner Westbrook for third—delivered $3.80 to show.

Favored Denman's Call finished fifth, followed by Bistraya and Iron Rob, to complete the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky, out of the Belong to Me mare Grassy Nellie, I Will Score now has a 3-1-1 record from six starts, with earnings of $173,145.