By Christie DeBernardis
'TDN Rising Star' Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man) will likely be the heavy favorite as he looks to return to winning ways in the GIII Lazaro Barrera S. at Santa Anita Saturday. Opening his account with a pair of wins, including the GIII Bob Hope S. Nov. 17, the Bob Baffert pupil finished second to stablemate, fellow 'TDN Rising Star' and likely GI Preakness S. favorite Improbable (City Zip) in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity S. in December. Romping in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 2, the $625,000 EASMAY buy checked in third as the favorite last time in the GIII Sunland Derby Mar. 24.
Sparky Ville (Candy Ride {Arg}) finished third to Mucho Gusto in their lone meeting in the Bob Hope and was sixth next out when trying turf in the Eddie Logan S. in Arcadia Dec. 28. Rallying late to out-nose a pair of Baffert 'Rising Stars' in the GII San Vicente S. over this track and trip Feb. 10, the gelding checked in sixth last time in the California Derby going two turns over the Golden Gate synthetic Apr. 27.
Vantastic (Dialed In) could get a piece at a price in this test. Second to Mucho Gusto in his lone try on dirt in his Los Al unveiling in September, he earned his diploma on turf next out and checked in third in the grassy GIII Cecil B. Demille S. in November. Hitting the board in a pair of Santa Anita turf sprints Jan. 11 and Feb. 10, the Peter Eurton pupil was seventh last out on the Arcadia lawn Feb. 10. Adding blinkers here, the bay displays a string of fast works on the main track leading up to this, including a best-of-49 five panels in 1:00 3/5 over this strip two back May 4.
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