Mucho Gusto cruised to a 3 1/4-length win in the $100,000 Laz Barrera S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park on Saturday afternoon to give the Bob Baffert trainee his third graded stakes win in just six lifetime starts.

Owned by Michael Petersen, the 3-year-old colt broke very quickly from his inside post, with Principe Carlo pressuring him through the first quarter-mile in :22.41. Mucho Gusto held his position around the bend, got a brief challenge from Vantastic at the top of the stretch, then drew off under a hand ride to win in style in 1:22.96 for the seven furlongs.

“I knew we wouldn’t get an easy lead, so I looked around to see who was going to go with us,” said jockey Joe Talamo. “I just wanted to get him out of there and get him comfortable. It’s amazing how well this horse relaxes.  He’s drawn the rail a lot and he’s still able to relax after he gets serious pressure. Today, he took two or three breathers around the turn and then he took off. He’s a pleasure to ride. Anybody could ride this horse.” 

Mucho Gusto, who won the Bob Hope S. (G3) at two and the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) this February, is now 4-1-1 in six starts and has earned $370,800.