One in Vermillion marches home victorious in the Lazaro Barrera (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— The longest shot in a compact field of four and the lone California-bred in the lineup, the Eric Kruljac-trained One in Vermillion, a trouble fifth in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby, cut back in distance to seven furlongs and dealt all the cards on Saturday at Santa Anita, as he marched to an emphatic 5 ¼ length win in the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes.
Breaking sharply from the rail, One in Vermillion was pressed by Bob Baffert’s Hard to Figure through early splits of 22.39, 45.09 and 1:09.77, prior to coming home seven panels in 1:22.77.
With Baffert’s Tahoe Sunrise looming into contention turning for home, an upset seemed unlikely, but One in Vermillion was far from done with Hector Berrios aboard and he had the Barrera in-hand a furlong from home.
“My decision was to put him on the lead, but I knew we would have some pressure,” said Berrios. “My horse impressed me. When we hit the half mile, I asked him, and he responded really well. Down the stretch he just kicked away.”
Fifth, beaten 4 ½ lengths by Practical Move and Mandarin Hero in the Santa Anita Derby, One in Vermillion, in only his second local start, was off at 5-1 and paid $12.00 and $3.80 with no show wagering.
“He’s a nice little horse,” said Kruljac. “The journey started when the owner bought the horse himself, he picked him out himself.”
A California-bred colt by Army Mule out of the Any Given Saturday mare Given Star, One in Vermillion is owned by Jonathan Kalman. A two-time stakes winner at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, AZ, One in Vermillion won his first start at age three by taking the ungraded Riley Allison going one mile at Sunland Park in New Mexico on Jan. 29.
With his win today at Santa Anita, all four of his wins have come in stakes from seven overall starts. With the winner’s share of $60,000, One in Vermillion increased his earnings to $242,440.
Navy Man, last early under Kent Desormeaux, out-ran the two Baffert trainees late to be second by a half-length over Tahoe Sunrise. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Navy Man, who broke his maiden going 6 ½ furlong here on April 8, was the second choice at 2-1 and paid $3.00 to place.
$100,000 Lazaro Barrra Stakes
Jockey Quotes
Hector I. Berrios, One In Vermillion, Winner: “My decision was to put him on the lead, but I knew we would have some pressure. My horse impressed me, when we hit the half mile, I asked him, and he responded really well. Down the stretch he just kicked away.”
Trainer Quotes
J. Eric Kruljac, One In Vermillion, Winner:“He’s a nice little horse. The journey started when the owner bought the horse himself, he picked him out himself. They have Phoenix connections. The man that trained him and broke him has worked with me I’ve sent my horses to him for over 35 years… I think this is Johnathan’s first horse.
“He is for real.”
Owner Quotes
Jonathan Kalman, One In Vermillion, Winner: “Incredible it is a dream come true. He ran really well in the dirt in the Derby four weeks ago and we thought this race would be perfect for him and it really was.”
