Collusion Illusion dominates Lazaro Barrera Stakes

The preliminary indications at Del Mar last summer has been confirmed at Santa Anita in recent weeks -- Collusion Illusion is an outstanding sprinter.

Saturday, Collusion Illusion ($2.80) caught clear pacesetter Ragtime Blues in the final furlong to win the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes for 3-year-olds by 3 1/4 lengths.

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Collusion Illusion trailed by 2 1/2 lengths on the turn, and by two lengths with a furlong remaining. Despite the deficit, Collusion Illusion made an eye-catching move to catch Ragtime Blues in the final furlong, quickly drawing away for his fourth win in five starts.

The win gave jockey Flavien Prat his fourth of five wins on Saturday’s card. Prat has won four races on three other occasions since the meeting began on Dec. 28 and won six races on May 17.

On the turn of the Barrera, Prat said he had a few anxious moments when Collusion Illusion was racing in second along the rail.

“A bit around the turn he was not taking the dirt quite well,” Prat said. “I wasn’t super-confident. I knew as soon as he turned for home and switched leads he would give me a good kick.”

Collusion Illusion finished 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.03. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 91.

Ragtime Blues, the 2-1 second choice in a field of five, finished second, 3 1/4 lengths in front of 43-1 Howbeit. Ragtime Blues set a quick pace of 21.90 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.73 for a half-mile.

The Barrera was the stakes debut for Ragtime Blues and Howbeit. Phantom Boss and Alcools finished fourth and fifth in the small field.

The $100,000 Laz Barrera Stakes was Collusion Illusion’s second stakes win. He won the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar last August in his stakes debut and second start.

Owned by the partnership of Dan Agnew, Rodney Orr, Jerry Schneider, and John Xitco, and trained by Mark Glatt, Collusion Illusion has earned $248,751. His only loss occurred in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita last September when he was pulled up after fading from contention.

Saturday’s win was Collusion Illusion’s second in as many starts this year, preceded by an authoritative victory against older horses in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at six furlongs on May 17. Tiger Dad finished second in that field and won the Thor’s Echo Stakes for statebred sprinters at Santa Anita on June 13.