Two Step Salsa recovers to win

For the second Sunday in a row, the Grade III feature at Hollywood Park belonged to owner-breeder Jeff Nielsen’s Everest Stables Inc.

After the 14-1 upset by maiden Million Dollar Run in the Railbird seven days earlier, Two Step Salsa, the 3-1 second choice, led virtually throughout to win the $107,200 Lazaro Barrera Memorial by three lengths.

In his graded stakes debut for trainer Julio Canani, the 3-year-old Petionville colt won for the third time in four starts, defeating Afleet Ruler and four others. Regular rider Martin Pedroza rode Two Step Salsa, who ran the seven furlongs in 1:20.66.

Undefeated in three races on synthetic surfaces, Two Step Salsa had some issues at the start, but quickly moved up from the rail to assume command and drew clear in the final eighth of a mile.

“Coming out of the gate, I clipped heels with (Rapidity, who finished last at 7-1),” Pedroza said. “His left leg with my horse’s right leg. He kind of sat down for an instant and I had to ask him to get going. Once we got to the front, he was just galloping, just cruising.”

In his first start since winning the Norfolk on Sept. 30 at Santa Anita, Dixie Chatter finished third, a bit more than two lengths behind Afleet Ruler.

Salute The Sarge, the 2-1 favorite, finished fifth. It was the second consecutive subpar effort for the Forest Wildcat colt. He was seventh of 11 in the Lexington a month earlier at Keeneland in Kentucky.

------

Magnificience did what she was supposed to do in her comeback in the third race at Hollywood Park.

However, remaining undefeated certainly was not easy for the daughter of Stormy Atlantic.

In her first race in nearly 14 months, Magnificience, who had won her two races in 2007 by a combined 11 1/2 lengths, needed every inch of the 6 1/2 furlongs she ran Sunday to stay perfect.

Owned by a group that includes trainer Bruce Headley, Magnificence, the 2-5 favorite, was up in the final stride to defeat pacesetter -- and stablemate -- Little Boss Chick, who was 25-1, by a nose. Ridden for the first time by jockey David Flores, Magnificience completed the distance in 1:15.53.

------

Trainer Paul Jones earned his first win in the $340,150 Kindergarten Futurity on Saturday night at Los Alamitos when 9-2 shot Revv It Up overcame trouble leaving the gate to remain undefeated.

Owned by Glenn and Kathleen Collins’ Keilani Farms, the 2-year-old daughter of First Down Dash won the Grade I by a nose over 9-1 shot Sixish. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, Revv It Up, a full sister to 2003 Champion Of Champions winner The Down Side, ran the 300 yards in 15.30 seconds.

Show Me A Beduino, the original third-place finisher, was disqualified and placed last for drifting out and interfering with several other horses, including 2-1 favorite Tres Passes. Hes Regal, who is also trained by Jones, was moved up to third and Tres Passes was placed fourth.