Plutarch, a colt with an elite pedigree, demonstrated significant progress on February 7th by securing victory in the Grade 3 $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, a one-mile dirt race at Santa Anita Park. Plutarch outran second-place finisher Intrepido by three-quarters of a length.
Trainer Bob Baffert had three horses competing in the Lewis, a race where he holds an unparalleled 14 wins, including a streak of eight consecutive victories.
Last year, as Plutarch required additional development time, Baffert and his team patiently guided him. His path, involving turf races “simply to give him experience,” has been unconventional for a horse considered a Triple Crown hopeful.
“We dedicated considerable effort to this horse; he was quite immature,” Baffert remarked. “He reminds me somewhat of Authentic, being a slow developer, but he’s improving constantly. He possesses an excellent disposition. He will ultimately grasp it.”
Secured Freedom, a recent impressive maiden winner trained by Tim Yakteen and the second favorite at 3-1 odds, overcame a sluggish start to deliver a powerful late drive, narrowly beating Desert Gate for third place.
Desert Gate, who was considered the strongest contender among Baffert’s trio and started as the 6-5 favorite, had a poor break from the rail and ended up fourth, just a nose behind Secured Freedom.
“He’s simply a front-runner, he needs to be on the lead,” Baffert commented about Desert Gate. “When he missed the start, I knew his chances were gone.”
Intrepido, who claimed victory in last fall’s Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Horse over Desert Gate and Plutarch, established the initial quarter-mile pace in :23.49. However, Plutarch then advanced to command the lead and dictate the subsequent fractions, including a half-mile time of :47.65.
“I felt he broke very sharply for me and positioned me perfectly,” stated jockey Florent Geroux. “When I asked him to accelerate down the stretch, he responded exceptionally well.”
Both Plutarch and Intrepido displayed tenacity throughout the race. They entered the final turn still locked in a fierce contest, and despite Intrepido’s attempts to overtake Plutarch, the Baffert-trained colt staunchly held his ground. Plutarch ultimately widened his lead, crossing the finish line in 1:37.02.
The Lewis Stakes awarded qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2nd. Plutarch secured 20 points, adding to the three he earned for his third-place finish in the American Pharoah. Intrepido accumulated an additional 10 points, bringing his total to 23, while Secured Freedom gained six points, and Desert Gate added five to his previous four from the American Pharoah. Cherokee Nation, Baffert’s third entry and still a maiden, finished fifth, earning two points.
Plutarch required five attempts to break his maiden last year, though he consistently showed potential, achieving a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes, and third-place finishes in both the American Pharoah and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes. Following these three stakes placings, Plutarch started as the even-money favorite in a maiden race on the turf at Del Mar on November 30th, finally achieving his first win by a commanding 4 1/2 lengths.
Baffert had engaged a variety of prominent jockeys for Plutarch, and for the Lewis, he enlisted Geroux.
“I contacted Flo recently. He was considering coming out here,” Baffert explained. “I told him, ‘Come here. I have a good one for you to ride. I believe he’s a very talented colt.’ I’ve had success with Flo before. We’ve performed well in Kentucky. He’s sharp. He’s a top rider.”
“Upon my arrival, finding a Derby horse was, to be frank, what I anticipated,” Geroux added. “Bob is an extraordinary trainer, having won the Derby six times. His track record speaks for itself. It is a great honor to have the chance to ride for him.”
