Smiling Tiger , a strong third behind Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Lookin At Lucky and Make Music for Me in both the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) and Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) last summer, gets back on a synthetic surface for the first time in 2010 in the $100,000 Lazaro S. Barrera Memorial Stakes (gr. III) at Hollywood Park May 22.
Trained by Northern California's Jeff Bonde and owned by Philip Lebherz and Alan Klein, Smiling Tiger is one of 10 3-year-olds seeking a first graded stakes victory in the seven-furlong Barrera, which will be contested over Hollywood's Cushion Track.
The Kentucky-bred son of Hold That Tiger and the Cahill Road mare Shandra Smiles has made one start since finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Lookin At Lucky in the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity Sept. 7. That effort came in Smiling Tiger's first try on the turf April 21 when he was beaten by just a half-length while third again in the Harry Henson Stakes at six furlongs on the Hollywood Park turf.
Smiling Tiger will be looking to pounce on his third lifetime win in six starts. The chestnut colt posted an eight-length win in the Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in his second race June 13, which was his last victory. Victor Espinoza, who rode Smiling Tiger in the Harry Henson, has the mount. They will break from post 7 with 121 pounds.
The most accomplished horse in the field is the 123-pound high weight Macias, one of two entered by trainer Bob Baffert in the Barrera. Zayat Stables' Macias has started three times in 2010, all on the turf, with a victory in Santa Anita's Baffle Stakes on the hillside turf course his best finish in February. The son of Purge is coming off a sixth-place finish when well bet in the Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland April 2.
Macias has won four of eight starts in his career, including two other stakes wins as a 2-year-old, while earning a field-best $167,597. In his most recent start on a synthetic track, he ran fourth in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III) last November. Macias drew post 5 and will be ridden for the first time by David Flores.
Baffert, who is looking for his first win in the Barrera, is also scheduled to start Concord Point.
A gray son of Tapit owned by Kaleem Shah, Concord Point has won twice in three races, banking $56,750. He makes his stakes and Hollywood Park debut. Martin Garcia has the mount.
Olympia Star's Skipshot , from the Jerry Hollendorfer barn, ran fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 3, finishing 7 3/4 lengths behind Sidney's Candy in his first Southern California race at odds of 25-1. All six of Skipshot's prior starts came in the northern half of the state, and he won three times in succession at Golden Gate Fields before the Santa Anita Derby.
With earnings of $71,030, Skipshot will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano and will carry 119 pounds.
Working Capital, claimed out of a victory against $40,000 California-bred maidens March 13 by trainer Doug O’Neill, will shorten up in distance for the Barrera. He was second behind heavily-favored Alphie's Bet in the $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes at nine furlongs April 24.
Big Man Has A Sign, who has one win in four starts for trainer Julio Canani, will try Cushion Track for the first time after finishing fourth in the Henson. Also coming out of the Henson is sixth-place finisher Dixie Trouper for Tarabilla Farms and trainer David Hofmans.
Domonation, out of the John Sadler stable, returns to the scene of his lone win in eight starts. He ran fourth in a Santa Anita allowance April 14.
Completing the field are Hawaiian Springs, a well-beaten third by the promising Golden Itiz in his first race in more than three months for trainer Kathy Walsh April 28, and Mr Tokyo, who finished third in the Snow Chief.
$100,000 Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes (gr. III, Race 8, 4:35 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 7 Furlongs (Synthetic)
PP. Horese, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Mr Tokyo (CA), A Quinonez, 115, J Lloyd
2. Dixie Trouper (ON), J Talamo, 117, D E Hofmans
3. Skipshot (KY), R Bejarano, 119, J Hollendorfer
4. Domonation (KY), J Rosario, 115, J W Sadler
5. Macias (KY), D R Flores, 123, B Baffert
6. Big Man Has a Sign (KY), M A Pedroza, 115, J C Canani
7. Smiling Tiger (KY), V Espinoza, 121, J Bonde
8. Working Capital (CA), T Baze, 115, D F O'Neill
9. Concord Point (KY), M Garcia, 117, B Baffert
10. Hawaiian Springs (KY), M E Smith, 115, K Walsh
Blinkers On: Hawaiian Springs
Smiling Tiger will be looking to pounce on his third lifetime win in six starts.
