INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 16, 2008) - Southern Equine Stable's Salute the Sarge, who was taken off the Kentucky Derby trail after finishing seventh in the Lexington Stakes, returns to sprinting and to Hollywood Park in Sunday's $100,000 Lazaro S. Barrera Memorial Stakes.
The son of Forest Wild Cat broke his maiden here last June, then won the Hollywood Juvenile Championship by a nose over Leonides before finishing second in the Del Mar Futurity and Norfolk Stakes to earn a berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Salute the Sarge finished ninth in the Juvenile behind champion War Pass on a sloppy track at Monmouth Park, but returned to win the San Miguel Stakes while making his 2008 debut in late March.
The Eric Guillot-trained colt will be facing an old nemesis in Dixie Chatter in the seven-furlong Barrera, whom he finished ahead of in the Del Mar Futurity but behind in the Norfolk.
Dixie Chatter, who will be making his first start since posting a 1¼-length victory in the Norfolk, has won two of four starts for owner/breeder Herman Sarkowksy and trainer Richard Mandella.
The 15th running of the Barrera drew a field of six, which will line up as follows from the rail out:
Two Step Salsa, Martin Pedroza up, carries 117 pounds; Rapidity, Corey Nakatani, 119; Salute the Sarge, Michael Baze, 121; Dixie Chatter, Richard Migliore, 121; Afleet Ruler, Rafael Bejarano, 115, and Wind's Legacy, Jon Court, 117.
Two Step Salsa won his first two starts before finishing second in the Harry Henson Memorial Stakes here in April; Rapidity makes his first North American appearance after winning four of seven starts in Europe; Afleet Ruler returns to the main track after placing in a pair of stakes on turf, and Wind's Legacy aims for his third straight victory while testing stakes company for the first time.
The Barrera runs as the eighth of nine races on Sunday's program at Hollywood Park. Post time is 1:20 p.m.
