Plutarch edges past in the Robert B. Lewis, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Plutarch became Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s latest winner of the Grade III Robert B. Lewis Stakes Saturday when edging away late from a game Intrepido in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. It was Baffert’s eight straight win in the Lewis and 14th overall.
Intrepido (4-1), last year’s Grade I American Pharoah winner, went to the lead under Hector Berrios but had a host of close-up pursuers including Plutarch (4-1) and jockey Florent Geroux. Down the backstretch and around the second turn, Plutarch and Intrepido raced side-by-side on the front-end. Then at the top of the stretch, Plutarch began pull clear of Intrepido, but it wasn’t quite over yet. Intrepido battled back along the inside until Plutarch again inched away to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
“I felt he broke very alertly for me and put me in a great spot,” said Geroux, who just this week relocated to Santa Anita from Fair Grounds in New Orleans. “When I asked him to move along in the lane he responded really well. But he waited for the horse on the inside a little bit. As soon as he came by me, my horse gave me another gear”.
A colt by Into Mischief, Plutarch won in a time of 1:37.02. It was his first stakes victory and first win on dirt. Last year, Plutarch finished third behind Intrepido in the American Pharoah on dirt prior to breaking his maiden on turf going 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 30 at Del Mar.
“This horse reminds me of Authentic. He keeps getting better every week,” Baffert said. “I don’t think distance will be a problem with him. This is very exciting. He’s legit.”
Secured Freedom (3-1), making his two-turn debut for trainer Tim Yakteen, finished third under Kazushi Kimura. Desert Gate, the 6-5 favorite also trained by Baffert, checked in fourth after a slow beginning. He was followed by his Baffert-trained stablemate Cherokee Nation in fifth.
“Desert Gate missed the break, and I knew the one hole would hurt us,” Baffert said. “I knew we were in trouble then because he is so one dimensional.”
Runner-up Intrepido was making his first start since a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. Trainer Jeff Mullins was satisfied with the performance.by the Maximus Mischief colt.
“I really didn’t expect him to be on the lead, I thought he’d be sitting in the pocket, maybe third. But, he breaks like that, you’ve got to go with it,” Mullins said. “To be off that long, I’m happy with his race.”
The win by Plutarch improved his record to 6: 2-2-2 with more than $190,000 in earnings He is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith of the international powerhouse Coolmore operation.
“I’m so happy for Coolmore, who has supported me for all these years,” Baffert said. “We’ve spent so much time with Plutarch.”
For Geroux, the Lewis proved to be a perfect welcome gift to Santa Anita.
“When I came here that was what I was expecting, to be honest, to find a Derby horse,” Geroux said. “Bob is an amazing trainer, and he has won the Derby six times, so the record book speaks for itself. To have the opportunity to ride for him is just a big honor.”
Plutarch paid $10.20, $3.80 and $2.80. Intrepido returned $4.60 and $3.40. Secured Freedom, trained by Tim Yakteen, paid $3.80.
GRADE III, ROBERT B. LEWIS STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
FLORENT GEROUX, PLUTARCH, WINNER: “I think the longer the better. He is a colt who has finally put it together this year. I watched some of his replays from last year and from what Bob (Baffert) told me, it looked like the horse was still a little bit green, trying to figure out what was going on during the race. But today, I felt he broke very alertly for me and put me in a great spot. When I asked him to move along the lane he responded really well. He waited for the horse on the inside a little bit, but as soon as he came by me, my horse gave me another gear. It was nice.
“When I came here that was what I was expecting, to be honest, to find a Derby horse. Bob is an amazing trainer, and he has won the Derby six times, so the record book speaks for itself. To have the opportunity to ride for him is just a big honor.”
TRAINER QUOTES
BOB BAFFERT, PLUTARCH, WINNER: “Desert Gate missed the break and I knew the one hole would hurt us. I knew we were in trouble then because he is so one dimensional. Plutarch is getting better. I’m so happy for Coolmore, who has supported me for all those years. We’ve spent so much time with Plutarch. “This horse reminds me of Authentic. He keeps getting better every week. I don’t think distance will be a problem with him. This is very exciting. He’s legit. “I told Florent (Geroux) to come out here. He’s a really good rider. He’s at the top of the class in Kentucky. I told him that I had some good horses for him to ride and to check it out.”
JEFF MULLINS, INTREPIDO, SECOND: “I really didn’t expect him to be on the lead, thought he’d be sitting in the pocket, maybe third. But, he breaks like that, you’ve got to go with it. To be off that long (since fifth in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Oct. 31), I’m happy with his race.”
NOTES: Plutarch’s owners Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor.
