Collusion Illusion, Baffert's Ragtime Blues square-off in Laz Barrera

Fresh off a huge allowance score going six furlongs, trainer Mark Glatt’s talented Collusion Illusion will stretch out  a half-furlong and make his second start off an extended vacation as he heads Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita.  The Barrera, named for the late Hall of Fame trainer, has attracted a field of five sophomores going 6 1/2 furlongs.

Bob Baffert’s speedy Ragtime Blues, a winner of his last two starts, will get the first time services of Mike Smith and also figures prominently in what will be his fourth career start.

COLLUSION ILLUSION
Owner:  Dan Agnew, Rodney Orr, Jerry Schneider & John Xitco      Trainer:  Mark Glatt

An impressive winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar in his second start on July 21, this Florida-bred colt by Twirling Candy was then eased in the Grade 1, 1 1/16 mile American Pharoah Stakes here on Sept. 27 and didn’t resurface until May 17, whereupon he was a dazzling three length allowance winner from off the pace going six furlongs. With Flavien Prat engaged to ride him back, Collusion Illusion looms large in the Barrera.

RAGTIME BLUES
Owner:  SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable, LLC, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, Frederick Hertrich, III, John D. Fielding & Golconda Stables

Trainer:  Bob Baffert

Second in his 5 ½ furlong debut at Los Alamitos on Sept. 21, this colt by Union Rags made his next start on April 24 at Oaklawn Park, as he led throughout and broke his maiden by a head going six furlongs. Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., here on May 25, Ragtime Blues was the 4-5 favorite in a six furlong allowance, a race he again went gate to wire in, winning by 2 1/4 lengths. With Smith taking over in his fourth start, he’ll try to stretch his speed another sixteenth of a mile and will hope to hold the top choice off in deep stretch.

The Lazaro Barrera stakes will go as the ninth race with an approximate post time of 7:30 p.m. Eastern. 

1. Collusion Illusion—Flavien Prat—124

2. Ragtime Blues—Mike Smith—122

3. Phantom Boss—Tiago Pereira—124

4. Alcools—Abel Cedillo—122

5. Howbeit—Umberto Rispoli—120