Laurel River to get tested by The Chosen Vron in Laz Barrera

ARCADIA, Calif. – Although the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes is a mere $100,000 sprint for 3-year-olds, the niche race has been won by very good horses.

The last two Barrera winners later won Grade 1s – Mucho Gusto (Pegasus World Cup) and Collusion Illusion (Bing Crosby). Previous Grade 1 winner Drill (Del Mar Futurity) and subsequent Grade 1 winner Smiling Tiger (Bing Crosby, Ancient Title, Triple Bend) also won the Laz Barrera. Clearly, the Barrera has history.

Whether history is made Saturday at Santa Anita will depend on flashy maiden winner Laurel River and California-bred stakes winner The Chosen Vron. They top the 6 1/2-furlong Barrera, race 3. Wipe the Slate and I’ll Stand Taller make it a four-horse field.

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Laurel River is trained by Bob Baffert, whose sullied Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit and stablemate Concert Tour are the early favorites in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico.

Based on an impressive second-start maiden win, Laurel River figures to lead the Barrera gate to wire. Racing 6 1/2 furlongs last out, Laurel River blazed the opening half in a meet-fastest 44.71 seconds and crushed with a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. It’s the top figure in the Barrera, and it was earned setting a hot pace. None of the maiden rivals he defeated have run back.

Laurel River was treated with Lasix before his maiden win, but under California stakes guidelines he will be Lasix-free in the Barrera. Will it make a difference? Since early February, Baffert has started 13 Lasix-off runners in graded stakes, with 5 wins and 4 seconds.

Laurel River is the speed of the Barrera. He will be ridden by Abel Cedillo.

If Laurel River wins as the chalk, he would be the fifth straight favorite to win the Barrera. But in order to win, he must hold off a very good California-bred gelding.

The Chosen Vron won his career debut in December, finished third in the Grade 2 San Vicente, and scored a sharp win last out in the Echo Eddie for California-bred 3-year-olds. His time was 1:15.80 for 6 1/2 furlongs. Laurel River ran 1:15.66 earlier on the same Santa Anita card.

Eric Kruljac trains The Chosen Vron, whose rider is Umberto Rispoli. The gelded son of Vronsky has enough tactical speed to keep Laurel River in his sights, and will try to wear him down as likely second choice in the betting.

Wipe the Slate and supplemental Barrera nominee I’ll Stand Taller are trained by Doug O’Neill. Wipe the Slate makes his first start since being gelded, and adds blinkers again. I’ll Stand Taller shortens to a sprint after finishing fourth in a California-bred route stakes.