Bob Baffert will win the Feb. 4 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. That's because he trains the only four horses in the race. Only two other trainers nominated a horse to the 1 1/16-mile race, with Baffert supplying 14 nominations, and those trainers chose not to enter their horses.
The four Baffert runners represent three ownership interests and four major sires. The large partnership headed by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables owns Newgate , a son of Into Mischief , and Worcester, a son of Empire Maker. Zedan Racing Stables owns Arabian Lion , a son of Justify , and Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman own Hard to Figure, a son of Hard Spun .
Hard to Figure is the only stakes winner of the quartet. He won the Sept. 25 Capote Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course and then finished fifth and last in the Nov. 20 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. Havnameltdown, also owned by Pegram, Watson, and Weitman, won the Bob Hope and returned to capture the Jan. 29 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita.
Baffert took blinkers off of Hard to Figure for the Capote after the colt ran third in two maiden races.
"He's kind of a strong-headed horse," said Baffert assistant trainer Mike Marlow after the Capote, "so we just wanted to try and stay away from everything and just leave him plain and let him be."
However, Hard to Figure lugged out and became rank early in the Bob Hope, and he will again run in blinkers for the Lewis. Ramon Vazquez, who had ridden Hard to Figure once, in the Capote, returns for the Lewis from post 4.
Newgate finished second in the Bob Hope and ran second in the Jan. 8 Sham Stakes (G3) by just a neck to Baffert-trained Reincarnate when ridden by Frankie Dettori for the first time. Dettori is slated to ride Newgate again in the Lewis from post 2.
"I think the winner and Newgate ran great," Baffert said after the Sham. "It looked like Dettori was going to get it done."
Arabian Lion (John Velazquez, post 1) showed talent in his racing debut, when at odds-on he won a six-furlong maiden race by three lengths Oct. 9 at Santa Anita. Sent to Keeneland for an allowance/optional claimer on Breeders' Cup weekend, Arabian Lion ran second, again at odds-on, after bobbling at the start. Odds-on yet again in the Dec. 17 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, Arabian Lion raced in second early and then faded to fifth and last.
Worcester (Juan Hernandez, post 3) has yet to attempt stakes competition and is still a maiden. Fourth in his debut Dec. 26, he returned Jan. 15 to finish second to Hejazi, who had previously run third in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) to Cave Rock and National Treasure . Baffert trains Hejazi, Cave Rock, and National Treasure.
The Lewis is named for the late owner who raced such champions as Baffert trainee Silver Charm and D. Wayne Lukas trainee Serena's Song. Baffert has won the race 10 times, including the last four consecutive runnings.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, February 4, 2023, Race 3Entries: Robert B. Lewis S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Arabian Lion (KY) John R. Velazquez 120 Bob Baffert 7/5 2 2Newgate (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 120 Bob Baffert 8/5 3 3Worcester (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 120 Bob Baffert 9/5 4 4Hard to Figure (KY) Ramon A. Vazquez 120 Bob Baffert 8/1
