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 1 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 5¼-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 in 1:22.77 for the seven panels.
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 4½ 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.
“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 and was bred by Richard Barton Enterprises. A two-time stakes winner at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona, 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 Saturday, 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.
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