Mucho Gusto Draws Rail in Lazaro Barrera Stakes

In his first start since finishing third as the favorite in the Sunland Park Derby (G3), Michael Petersen's Mucho Gusto will return to sprinting in the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) May 18 at Santa Anita Park.

A seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds, the Lazaro Barrera attracted six entries, with Mucho Gusto drawing the rail. Regular rider Joe Talamo will be aboard.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Mucho Gusto led the 1 1/8-mile Sunland Park Derby early while racing inside before fading in the stretch in the March 24 test at Sunland Park. Before that effort, the son of Mucho Macho Man  drew off to a 4 3/4-length victory in the Feb. 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) on a sloppy track at Santa Anita.

Last year, Mucho Gusto scored his maiden win at six furlongs at Los Alamitos Race Course and followed with a clear victory in the Bob Hope Stakes (G3) going seven furlongs at Del Mar. He then earned a runner-up finish to stablemate Improbable—Saturday's morning-line favorite for the Preakness Stakes (G1)—in the Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity (G1).

Also returning to sprinting Saturday is Del Secco DCS Racing's Sparky Ville, who won the seven-furlong Feb. 10 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. Trained by Jeff Bonde, the son of Candy Ride  will be making his first start since an off-the-board finish in the April 27 California Derby at 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic surface at Golden Gate Fields.

Entries: Lazaro Barrera S. (G3)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, May 18, 2019, Race 8

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo
• 4:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Mucho Gusto (KY)	Joseph Talamo	124	Bob Baffert	4/5
2	2Sparky Ville (KY)	Victor Espinoza	124	Jeff Bonde	5/2
3	3Principe Carlo (CA)	Ruben Fuentes	120	Marcelo Polanco	12/1
4	4Vantastic (FL)	Flavien Prat	120	Peter Eurton	5/1
5	5Manhattan Up (KY)	Tiago Josue Pereira	120	Philip A. Oviedo	6/1
6	6Synthesis (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	120	George Papaprodromou	12/1