Ferocious one to watch in Laz Barrera Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ferocious makes his stakes debut in the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters at Santa Anita on Saturday. The race could lead to a start in stakes around two turns this summer, trainer Ron Ellis said.

Already, the lightly raced colt has displayed significant ability, winning his last two starts after finishing a game second in a maiden race in January.

“He’s named very appropriately,” Ellis said. “He’s tough, and he seems to thrive on a battle.”

Owned by Kretz Racing, Ferocious was purchased for $300,000 at the 2013 Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training. He was turned out following the sale and fought sore shins later in 2013, Ellis said.

Ferocious was beaten a head in his debut at 5 1/2 furlongs in January. He beat maidens over 6 1/2 furlongs on March 8 and returned to win an optional claimer over seven furlongs on April 12. Joe Talamo was aboard for those races and is scheduled to ride Ferocious on Saturday.

The Laz Barrera Stakes is run over seven furlongs.

“He acts like he’ll be able to go farther,” Ellis said. “When he ran 5 1/2, Joe said he’d be better going 6 1/2. Last time, he said he should like two turns. He’s done what we’ve asked of him so far. He ran a solid race in his debut. He came back and won and did what he was supposed to do.”

The Barrera is the first of two main-track graded stakes for 3-year-olds at the spring-summer meeting. The Barrera leads to the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on June 7. Those races were previously run at Hollywood Park, which closed last December.

Ferocious will be tested in the Barrera. The field is expected to include the two-time stakes winner Kobe’s Back, who was third after a troubled start in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes over seven furlongs at Aqueduct on April 5.