Baffert Primed for Exacta in R.B. Lewis Stakes
By: Laurie Ross, Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds
The
Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) has been through a few name changes over the years
since its origin in 1935 as the Santa Catalina Handicap. Renamed in honor of one of California’s
greatest horse owners, the race has showcased aspiring colts and fillies
looking to take their next step on the Triple Crown Journey. The Robert B.
Lewis Stakes honor roll includes the names of Sham, Ferdinand, Artax, and
General Challenge. Not all of them made their presence felt in the Triple Crown
races, but they became good horses in their own right. More recently, 2009 Robert B. Lewis Stakes
winner Pioneerof the Nile fought his way to a runner-up position in the
Kentucky Derby while 2012 and I’ll Have Another captured the first two legs of
the Triple Crown. Last year’s R.B. Lewis contenders took a close second and
third in the Kentucky Derby behind Pioneerof the Nile’s son, American Pharoah.
This
year, a competitive field of seven colts will go to the post in the 1 1/16 mile
contest. The winner will earn ten points towards their trip to the Kentucky
Derby.
Bob
Baffert has a solid chance to score the exacta in the R.B. Lewis. The top classic
horse in his stable right now has to be MOR
SPIRIT (Eskendereya - Im a Dixie Girl, by Dixie Union), easy winner of the
Los Al Futurity by 1 ¼ lengths over stablemate Toews on Ice. Read his pedigree
profile.
Baffert’s
other entry LET'S
MEET IN RIO (Flatter - Rio Carnival, by
Storm Cat) won his maiden two starts ago, besting Lewis contestant Laoban by 1 ½
lengths. The son of Flatter made a huge run from eighth place in the Sham
Stakes to place second, beaten by only 1 ¼ lengths by another Baffert horse,
Collected. The extra distance should
suit Let’s Meet in Rio and Baffert could collect another exacta finish.
Jerry Hollendorfer gives the inexperienced, yet undefeated I WILL SCORE (Roman Ruler - Grassy
Nellie, by Belong to Me) a class check. The colt has no blacktype in the first
two generations of his distaff line. However, his dam was in the money in 9 of
17 starts as an allowance class runner. Her game was 1 1/16 miles over the lawn. I Will Score has a sprinter/miler pedigree
and 1 1/6 miles may be his limit. Besides stepping up in class, he’ll be asked
to carry his speed around two turns for the first time. Hollendorfer gave the
colt three sharp stamina breezes to equip the son of Roman Ruler for the task.
DRESSED IN
HERMES (Hat
Trick (JPN) - Elusive Fashion, by Elusive Quality) scratched out of the Sham and
will make his first start of the season in the R.B. Lewis. Trained by Janet Armstrong, the colt spent
the last three months recording a string of moderate/slow breezes. Dressed in Hermes’ has carved out a nice
little career over the lawn as a stakes miler. His initial start was in a dirt sprint where
he finished a distant fourth to Exaggerator.
Although two of
his half siblings won once each over the dirt, Dressed
in Hermes’ distaff line is solid turf. The colt should enjoy the extra distance
and if he’s kept on the outside away from dirt kickback, he could have a shot
at hitting the board.
UNCLE LINO (Uncle Mo - Haysee, by
Orientate) has one of the best pedigrees in the field. By a 2YO Champ and
leading freshman sire, Uncle Lino is out of an unraced full sister to multiple
graded stakes heroine Lady Joanne. Her greatest accomplishment was a victory in
the Alabama (G1) at 1 ¼ miles. Haysee is a half-sister to Preakness Stakes
winner and new sire Shackleford, plus multiple graded stakes winners Afleeting
Lady and Baghdaria. After winning his maiden,
Uncle Lino placed third by a short neck to I Will Score in an optional claiming
race. The Gary Sherlock
trainee posted three stamina breezes, including a sharp pre-race 5F move. Uncle Lino should enjoy the extra distance
and should be considered for the exotics.
With six starts under his girth, PATH OF DAVID (Istan - Rimini Road, by Dynaformer) is the most
experienced, and only gelding in the field. Slow to mature, Path of David showed little in
his first two races, both dirt sprints. He
found his home on the turf and has finished in the money in all four starts,
including a last out victory in the Eddie Logan. Path of David is a full
brother to the multiple graded stakes placed Antigun, who was third in the 2012
Belmont Stakes. Antigun won over dirt and turf and improved as a three and four-year-old. If Path of David is anything like his big
brother, he may handle dirt now that he’s a little older and maturing.
LAOBAN (Uncle Mo - Chattertown, by Speightstown)
is still a maiden after three starts at a straight mile. Let’s Meet in Rio got
the best of him in both meetings. After finishing
second to his rival and in the process, blowing a five length lead in a maiden
race, Laoban switched running styles in the Sham Stakes. The Eric Guillot
trainee was in tight in the early stages and made a four-wide move, but didn’t
make up much ground in the stretch. Laoban finished third in the Sham Stakes, 2
¾ lengths behind Collected. Laoban has plenty
of sprint attributes in his pedigree and may be more competitive at shorter
distances. Laoban’s dam is a stakes
placed sprinter. She’s a half to That’s How I Roll, a stakes winning sprinter
and to Santa Ysabel Stakes runner-up Bluegrass Chatter. The second dam Chatter is a multiple stakes
winning sprinter and she’s a half to the dam of Grade 1 winning veteran I’m a
Chatterbox.
Selections:
Track
bias: Pace pressers earn the lion’s share of awards over the Santa Anita dirt.
Eight
of the last eleven R.B. Lewis heroes prepped in a graded stakes and only one of
them didn’t hit the board in their previous start. I dislike being one of those handicappers who
always goes with the obvious favorite, but Mor
Spirit is again the one to beat here.
I picked him over his stablemate in the Los Al. Watching videos of Mor Spirit’s morning
works, I observed that the colt has a good mind. He can gallop along on a long rein despite
having fractious horses to his inside. That kind of attitude wins races. I Will
Score has a ton of early speed and looks like the early pacesetter, or he
may duel with Uncle Lino. Unless he can conserve his natural speed, I Will
Score might fade, but have to include. Uncle
Lino has the best pedigree in the field, but needs to prove that he can sit
off of horses successfully. Let’s Meet in Rio will most likely sit
at the back of the pack and will take aim around the second turn. He has a good
late kick and can create another Baffert exacta. Path of David and Dressed in Hermes need
to prove they will handle the dirt. Laoban could find the distance too far.
#5 MOR SPIRIT
#1 LET’S MEET IN RIO
#7 UNCLE LINO
#2 I WILL SCORE
The Play: $100
$20 Win #5
$20 Win #1
$20 Exacta ($40)
Ex: 5-1
Ex: 1-5
$0.10 Super Box ($12)
1-3-4-5-6-7
$8 for a snack.
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