Liaison won for the second time in as many 2013 starts, taking Saturday's $150,250 Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2) at Hollywood Park, the second graded stakes win and fourth black-type overall for the Bob Baffert-trained son of Indian Charlie.

The win was the first for the 4-year-old in a graded affair since he won the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity, also at Hollywood, in December, 2011.
Liaison stalked the pace set by 2-1 favorite Blueskiesnrainbows for most of the 1 1/16-mile trip, taking over at the head of the stretch to kick clear under urging from Martin Garcia, stopping the timer in 1:42.79.

“The (Daily) Racing Form showed there was more speed than that, but my intention was to be close,” said Garcia. “My horse is still learning and that it looks like that’s where he wants to be. He’s improving all the time. He out broke everybody, but I just let the inside horse take the lead and sat chilly in second. When I asked him to go, he responded. He finished the job.”

Owned by Arnold Zetcher LLC, Liaison won for the fifth time in 14 starts. The $90,000 payday pushed his lifetime earnings to $721,794.

Liaison's win was the third straight on Saturday's card for Baffert. The stable also won the eighth race with impressive first time starter Donelle and the ninth with 3-2 favorite Midnight Crooner.