Some Derby preps give us Derby winners. Others, like the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis - to be contested today at Santa Anita - give us stars.
The list of winners from the Lewis is amongst the best of any 3-year-old stakes, with 4 of the 5 most recent winners having won a Grade 1 race afterward. The race has been dominated of late by trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the 7 most recent editions of the Lewis. The previous pair of winners of this race - Citizen Bull and Nysos - gave us the most memorable stretch run of the Breeders’ Cup, with a classic nose-and-nose finish down the Del Mar stretch. Baffert has the inside trio entered.
Let’s meet the field, and put together our weekly wager. If you’re wagering in Southern California, check out AmWager! They’ve got a 100% deposit match up to $150 for new customers!
The Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis. 1 1/16 miles, dirt. 3 year-olds. $100,000.
1. Desert Gate. 6/5. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
If recent editions of this race hold this year, Desert Gate is the winner of this race. He’s from the right barn, he has the right breeding, and he’s exiting a 2-year-old campaign where he won a graded stakes and was excellent in 2 others. It will be interesting to see if he inherits the lead - which is a distinct possibility - or if he’s able to sit off of a front-runner like Robusta. If he’s able to sit in the pocket, I like his chances much more. A top contender, for sure.
Comment: contender.
2. Plutarch. 4/1. Jockey: Florent Geroux. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
While I don’t think he wins at the mile distance today, Plutarch may well be the most likely Derby contender amongst Baffert’s runners in the Lewis. He broke his maiden last out - on the turf - going 9 furlongs. He gets back to 8 here, and I simply think it isn’t enough time to get his engine going. His best races have all been over 2 turns, and the booking of Florent Geroux - who is willing to put horses at the front in dirt races - gives him an outside shot here.
Comment: a touch too little distance.
3. Cherokee Nation. 5/1. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Bob Baffert.
Cherokee Nation enters a maiden, but connections thought enough of him to ship to Churchill Downs for the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club, where he finished a decent 5th in a good field. He’s shown an ability to be on the front before - look for him to be the target for Desert Gate - but if jockey Antonio Fresu can rate him properly, look out.
Comment: toss.
4. Intrepido. 5/2. Jockey: Hector Berrios. Trainer: Jeff Mullins.
Intrepido is the Grade 1 winner in the field, besting Desert Gate in the Grade 1 American Pharoah in October at Santa Anita. That was at a distance of 8 ½ furlongs, quite similar to today’s set up. Intrepido will have to get moving a touch earlier, but jockey Hector Berrios isn’t one to let runners fall too far behind. Trainer Jeff Mullins had a spectacular 2025, and this would be a great start to ‘26.
Comment: most likely winner.
5. Briggs Armypower. 30/1. Jockey: Tyler Baze. Trainer: Daniel Jensen.
Briggs Armypower began his career at Arapahoe Park outside Denver. The purse in his maiden race? $9,000. He did win the $37,000 Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe in November, contested at 6 furlongs. He’s the most likely last place finisher here.
Comment: first toss.
6. Robusta. 15/1. Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo. Trainer: Doug O’Neill.
Robusta is a son of Accelerate, and enters the race off a maiden win. The connections have booked jockey Emisael Jaramillo back after that gate-to-wire effort. His final time in a sub 1:36 can win in this company; he won’t get as easy a trip here, but if he improves in his 3rd start, look out.
Comment: live long shot.
7. Secured Freedom. 6/1. Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Tim Yakteen.
The Tim Yakteen trained Secured Freedom likewise enters off a maiden win, but his in a 6 ½ furlong sprint. He’ll be routing for the first time, but as a son of Practical Joke out of an Uncle Mo mare, distance shouldn’t be a question. I’m not sure a Virginia-bred has won this race, but Secured Freedom is certainly not without a chance.
Comment: can win.
The Sporting Tribune Wager:
$3 Late Pick 3, starts race 7 ($54): 2,4,7 / 1,4 / 1,2,3. Good luck!