Aristocratic First Shah Starter for Callaghan

Trainer Simon Callaghan acknowledges the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) May 13 at Santa Anita Park will be a unique experience.

In the seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds Saturday, Callaghan will saddle a horse he hasn't even breezed yet in Kaleem Shah's Aristocratic. After a split with trainer Doug O'Neill earlier in the week, six Shah horses were transferred to Callaghan's barn at Santa Anita, and one, Aristocratic, will start in the Barrera Saturday.

BALAN: Kaleem Shah, Doug O'Neill End Working Relationship

"Obviously we're just getting to know the horse and it's certainly a little strange to put a saddle on a horse we don't know well, but it was the race Doug and Kaleem were pointing for," Callaghan said of the Malibu Moon   colt and last-out San Pedro Stakes winner. "It's a logical race to run him in. We've had him for a couple mornings and he's happy and training good.

"It would be a nice way to start it off if we get a win. As long as he runs a good race and he's competitive—just like all the horses, we'll get to know him and put him in the in the right spots."

BALAN: Aristocratic Speeds to San Pedro Victory

Also returning from the six-furlong San Pedro is Bobby Abu Dhabi (second, 4 1/2 lengths back), and Taxman's Quest (fifth). Taxman's Quest is the only other stakes winner in the field, but that came in Oklahoma-bred company during his 2-year-old year in the Oct. 21 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile Stakes at Remington Park, before he was transferred to the barn of trainer Richard Mandella in California.

Looming on the rail is China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, and SF Racing's American Anthem. Trained by Bob Baffert, who won the Barrera in 2012 at Hollywood Park with Drill  , the Bodemeister   colt only has a debut maiden victory from his four starts, but appeared to have a higher ceiling after a tight, second-place finish behind grade 1 winner Gormley in the Sham Stakes (G3) Jan. 7. A tenth-place run in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and a 12th in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) put an end to any hopes of a run in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

"He threw in two races that were lackluster performances," Baffert said. "The race against Gormley was a great race. He never gave up and kept trying. I want to shorten him up, which might help him mentally. Sometimes you can sharpen them by shortening them up.

"But I don't like his post, because now we have to use him early. That's been his problem."

Rounding out the field is Kimbear, who finished sixth in the Santa Anita Derby, and Sutton Impact, a 5 1/2-length debut winner at six furlongs in a $75,000 maiden claiming race April 15 at Santa Anita.

Lazaro Barrera S. (G3)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, May 13, 2017, Race 5

• 7f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo
• 3:03 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1American Anthem (KY)	Mike E. Smith	120	Bob Baffert	2/1
2	2Kimbear (KY)	Joseph Talamo	120	J. Eric Kruljac	3/1
3	3Bobby Abu Dhabi (KY)	Norberto Arroyo, Jr.	120	Peter Miller	4/1
4	4Taxman's Quest (OK)	Tyler Baze	122	Richard E. Mandella	12/1
5	5Sutton Impact (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Peter Miller	6/1
6	6Aristocratic (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	122	Simon Callaghan	5/2