Drill and Martin Garcia take the G3 Laz Barrera

After trying two turns a couple times, Bob Baffert decided Drill needed to get back to shorter distances, and the 3-year-old colt responded with a half-length victory in the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G3) Saturday at Hollywood Park

Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, the Lawyer Ron colt won for the third time in as many starts at seven furlongs. Third behind pacesetter American Act and stablemate Gun Boat for most of the trip, Drill and jockey Martin Garcia angled off the rail early in the stretch, then split horses to prevail in the closing yards, stopping the timer in 1:22.88.

"I just talked to Bob on the phone," said assistant trainer Mike Marlow. "He thought (Drill) ran well and Gun Boat might need blinkers, he was hanging a little the last eighth of a mile.

"But I think Drill is just a better horse. It’s a good thing Gun Boat was the other horse or he might not have let him out (when Drill was seeking room early in the stretch). Drill kind of likes a target, just like he got today."

The win was the first in the Barrera for Baffert, Three of Drill’s wins have come in tandem with Garcia, including the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last Sept. 7 and the Grade 2 San Vicente S. in February at Santa Anita.

"I was just trying to save as much ground as I could," said Garcia, who won two other races on the card with Baffert-trained runners – Eaton Hall (sixth) and Lady Ten (seventh).

Drill has now won four times in 11 starts, racking up $419,710.