Benoit photo
Seven Sophomores Tune Up At Santa Anita For Feb. 3 Robert B. Lewis
Seven 3-year-olds nominated to the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, including a quartet for Bob Baffert, worked Saturday morning at Santa Anita.
Drilling for Baffert at the Arcadia, Calif., track were G2 Los Alamitos Futurity winner Wynstock (5f, 1:02.20), maiden winner Imagination (5f, 1:02.00), G2 San Vicente runner-up Pilot Commander (5f, 59.60 seconds) and G1-placed Wine Me Up (5f, 1:00.00).
The 1 1/16-mile Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 3 serves as a prep for the G1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 6. It will be among six stakes run next weekend at Santa Anita. The Lewis is a qualifying points race for the May 4 Kentucky Derby, giving 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers, provided their trainers are eligible to race at Churchill Downs.
Working for trainer Tim Yakteen was Moonlit Sonata, who went five furlongs in 1:00.00. By Malibu Moon, Moonlit Sonata won his debut going 6 ½ furlongs on dirt at Del Mar Nov. 25. He was subsequently fifth in the San Vicente going seven furlongs here Jan. 6.
Working for trainer Gary Mandella was Better Than Gold, who broke his maiden going a mile on dirt at Del Mar Dec. 2. The Nyquist colt drilled six furlongs in 1:14.40.
Working for trainer Doug O’Neill was Ace of Clubs, most recently fifth in the Los Alamitos Futurity. The Mor Spirit colt went five furlongs in 59.80 seconds, which was the ninth-fastest of 81 moves at the distance.
Entries for the Robert B. Lewis will be accepted on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The supporting stakes on Feb. 3 are the G2 Santa Monica for fillies and mares at seven furlongs on dirt, G3 Thunder Road for older horses at a mile on turf and G3 Megahertz for older fillies and mares at a mile on turf.
Set for next Sunday, Feb. 4, at Santa Anita is the G3 Las Virgenes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on dirt and G3 San Marcos for older horses at 1 ½ miles on turf. The Las Virgenes is a qualifying points race for the Kentucky Oaks, awarding 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.
