Controversial trainer Bob Baffert sends out all four runners in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita and the wide-open Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream features several horses with potential as the Kentucky Derby preps continue Saturday.
Baffert horses cannot earn Derby points unless his suspension at Churchill Downs is lifted on appeal, but the Lewis will work as a test to see if any should move on to bigger 3-year-old races. It is scheduled for Race 3 at 4 p.m. EST.
Speedy Legacy Isle, who would be 3-for-3 if not for a disqualification, keys the balanced Holy Bull which goes off at 5:43 p.m. EST as Race 12.
The Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct, another Derby prep race originally scheduled for Saturday, was moved to Feb. 11 and entries will be redrawn next week. Freezing temperatures and high winds caused the cards on Feb. 3 and 4 at Aqueduct to be canceled.
Let’s check the latest Horse Racing news, stats, injury reports, and Horse Racing lines for Kentucky Derby preps. We’ve got plenty of Horse Racing picks for you to consider.
No Value in Lewis
It will be difficult to make any money betting online in the $200,000 Grade 3 Lewis stakes with four runners in the field.
Three of the four horses will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles, which will separate the quartet and give Baffert options moving forward if the suspension is lifted or he must transfer the runners to other trainers by the end of the month.
The rail horse and morning line favorite Arabian Lion (7-5) faded to fifth in the 1 1/16 Los Alamitos Futurity last time out in mid-December but may be a gate-to-wire threat in this race. Newgate (2) was second in the 1-mile Sham at Santa Anita on Jan. 8, and maiden Worcester (3) was second in a 6 ½ furlong race three weeks ago. and Hard to Figure (4) had a strong 5-furlong work (:59) on Jan. 22.
- Bet 2-3 exacta straight.
Pace Important in Holy Bull
Legacy Isle, who breaks from the No. 6 hole in the 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Grade 3 Holy Bull, staggered home and was disqualified last time out in the 1-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 1.
He must improve to hold off this field that includes at least three very capable stalkers, and his trainer Rohan Crichton has a weak graded stakes record. Talented Luis Saez is aboard Legacy Isle, though, and the son of former Preakness winner Shackleford could be the lone speed at 7-2 morning line.
Eclipse-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. pilots the rail horse Lord Miles, who came flying for third in the Mucho Macho Man and will like the added distance. Trainer Dale Romans’ Cyclone Mischief (4), the ML favorite in the horse racing odds at 2-1, has run the distance twice and was an easy winner in an optional claimer at a mile on Jan. 8 at Gulfstream.
Trainer Bill Mott also sends out Rocket Can (8) after he closed to second in a 1 1/16 optional claimer at Churchill Downs last time out in late November. Mr. Bob (5) could also sneak into the trifecta with a cleaner trip than in the Mucho Macho Man where he finished sixth out of 11.
Lord Miles and Cyclone Mischief were impressive in their last races and we expect them to continue improvement Saturday, deserving an exacta or trifecta bet at the racebook.
- Bet 1-4 with 1,4 with 5,6,8 trifecta.
