2023 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Preview & FREE Picks | Baffert Enters All 4 In Embarrassing Kentucky Derby Prep

Mike previews the 2023 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) from Santa Anita Park, then gives his top picks & long shots from this Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race. What’s more embarrassing, that only 4 horses entered the race, or that all 4 are from the same trainer, Bob Baffert, including Newgate? The race is guaranteed to award 0 total points toward the Kentucky Derby trail due to Bob Baffert’s suspension. Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The track press release:

               A close second in his most recent start, Newgate heads a roster of four Bob Baffert trainees going a mile and one sixteenth in Saturday’s Grade III, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

                Off at 5-1 in the Grade III Sham Stakes at one mile here on Jan. 8, Newgate, last early in a compact field of five, rallied gallantly through the lane but couldn’t get on terms with stablemate Reincarnate, losing by a neck under Frankie Dettori, who rides him back on Saturday.

                An $850,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Newgate was second two starts back in the Grade III Bob Hope Stakes going seven furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 20 and will be making his fifth graded stakes appearance since breaking his maiden going 5 ½ furlongs first time out on July 30.

                Owned by SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, et al, Newgate, a bay colt by Into Mischief out of the Majestic Warrior mare Majestic Presence, is 5-1-2-0 with earnings of $121,975.

                Odds-on in all three of his starts, Arabian Lion, who flopped at 2-5 while beaten 12 lengths in the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 17, will hope to run back to a big second place finish going seven furlongs in a first condition allowance at Keeneland Nov. 4, a race in which he finished second by three quarters of a length at 3-5.

                A first-out maiden winner going six furlongs here on Oct. 9, Arabian Lion earned a 92 first-out Beyer Speed Figure and followed that with a 93 Beyer at Keeneland.  Purchased for $600,000 out of an Ocala, Florida 2-year-old in training sale this past April, Arabian Lion is owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. and is by 2018 Triple Crown champ Justify.

THE GRADE III ROBERT B. LEWIS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

1. Arabian Lion—John Velazquez—122
2. Newgate – Lanfranco Dettori – 120
3. Worcester – Juan Hernandez – 120
4. Hard to Figure – Ramon Vazquez – 120

               Race 3 of 10

               Approximate post time 1 p.m. PT