Blazonry wins Laz Barrera Memorial

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Blazonry, taking advantage of a wicked early pace that sapped the front-runners, rallied from last to first for a 2 1/2-length victory in Monday's $150,000 at Hollywood Park.

The Barrera, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds, was only the second North American start for Blazonry. He had finished a close third in a first-level allowance race on April 2 at Santa Anita, his first race after making five starts on the turf at age 2 in Great Britain.

His lack of experience on dirt and in stakes races was offset by an ideal set-up. Our Bobby V. and 9-5 favorite King Robyn tore through fractions of 21.62 seconds and :44.11 for the first half-mile. Both were exhausted by the time they hit the stretch.

Blazonry, however, was just starting to find his best stride. Taken wide on the turn by jockey Mike Smith, he roared past the pacesetters and was never threatened by runner-up Fly to the Wire. He completed seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:22.19.

Jimmy O was another half-length back in third after racing in traffic for much of the race. King Robyn faded to fifth, and Our Bobby V. was seventh in the field of nine.

Blazonry ($11.40), a son of Hennessy out of the Alydar mare Altair, was bred and is owned by Sanford Robertson and is trained by Kathy Walsh. The $400,000 Swaps Stakes July 13 is among the races being considered for Blazonry's next race, Walsh said.