The Robert Lewis Stakes has been good to us here at Graded Stakes. Last year we had Caracortado ($11) as our top pick. The gelded Michael Machowsky trainee ran huge to stay undefeated and take the top spot just as we predicted. Since then he has lost, but has also put together some very strong efforts. Recently he was third sprinting in the Malibu Stakes and he won the SunShine Millions Turf to stay unbeaten over the grass. This year’s winner of the Grade 2 Robert Lewis Stakes has a bright future just as Caracortado did and still does. Let’s find the winner.

#1 Wegner – If this horse was in any barn but Bob Bafferts, I’d probably just keep moving. However, the master of all masters sees something in him so we must consider him. He is a son of Dynaformer and out of a Seeking The Gold mare. What does this mean? It means he will run all day. The average winning distance for progeny of Dynaformer is very strong at 8.6 furlongs. He looked great going wire to wire in his first try over dirt to break his maiden last out under Bejarano who will retain the mount. He is without doubt a live outsider here.

#2 Anthony’s Cross – Eoin Harty shipped this guy west after he broke his maiden at Churchill Downs two back. In his first start at Santa Anita he finished third beaten 9 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes. It’s tough to imagine a son of Indian Charlie going 9 furlongs, but his mare does provide some stamina. The blinkers are on and Joel Rosario stays up. I’m having a hard time seeing this guy winning, but anything is possible. He is also entered in the El Camino Real Derby.

#3 Comma To The Top – Who says two-year-old are babied? Not this gelding. He raced 10 times last year, capped by a win in the Grade 1 Cash Call Futurity. It looks like he wont race here as he is cross entered in the El Camino Real Derby and the trainer favors that race. If he doesn’t go here then it really sets things up for the favorite.

#4 Tapizar – It must be nice to be Steve Asmussen. The good horses just keep rolling into his barn. He took the Grade 3 Sham Stakes with this son of Tapit last out. He really woke up two back when he broke his maiden by 10 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs after sitting just off the pace. Garrett Gomez will retain the mount. If Tapizar runs back to his last two races its hard to see anyone beating him.

#5 Ten Devils – Broke his maiden first out going 5 on the turf. Since then he has put together second place finishes in the Eddie Logan and an allowance race. Trainer Richard Mandella wants him to drop further off the pace this time. That could work to his favor as a speed duel appears possible. The son of Rock Hard Ten will be making his first start on the dirt. It looks like he should take to it. All in all, it looks like Mandella and jockey Joe Talamo have got a live horse. Don’t count him out.

#6 Riveting Reason –  Takes off the blinkers for breeder and trainer Kwon Myung Cho. He just missed for the win in his last start against two other allowance horses. Two of his best finishes came without blinkers ( third in the Grade 1 Norfolk and Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity). I’ve got a hard time seeing him win here.

#7 Quail Hill – Trainer David Hoffmans is probably reaching with the Candy Ride colt who broke his maiden over the grass last out. I’m not going to use him.

#8 Thirtyfirststreet – Looked stellar winning the California Breeders Champion Stakes. It looked like he didnt have a chance in the last furlong, but he just kept on closing to get up by a half length. Patrick Valenzuela will get the mount as Rafael Bejarano has opted to stay on Wegner. Distance could be a problem, but I don’t think it will be. He needs a quick pace in his first try around two turns.

Tapizar looks very hard to beat here. With that said, I’ll try anyway. Probably not smart, but it is what it is! Wegner is my top selection. He is trained by the best trainer in the country and has arguably the best jockey in California on his back. Going 9 furlongs will be no problem for him as a son of Dynaformer. Look for Bejarano to take off the pace and come for Tapizar with everything he has. Here are our plays:

WIN on WEGNER

EXACTA –  1,8/4

TRIFECTA – 1,8/1,4,8/1,45,8

SUPERFECTA: 1/4,8/4,5,8/ALL

Who do you like in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes from Santa Anita Park? Leave a comment and we can talk about it!

The Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes has been very strong in recent years. Some of the recent winners include Pioneerof The Nile, Crown of Thorns, Great Hunter, and Declan’s Moon. The race is contested at 8.5 furlongs over the main track at Santa Anita. The field is left short at just 5 horses this year after draining problems caused it to be canceled when it was supposed to run last weekend.

Bob Baffert will attempt to win this race for the second year in a row and the fourth time overall with Tiz Chrome. The son of Tiznow won a minor stakes last out in a blistering time going 6.5 furlongs at Hollywood Park. He powered away to win by 4 lengths. Garrett Gomez will retain the mount. It will be interesting to see how he handles the distance. His pedigree suggests he won’t have any problems, but you never know.

Caracortado looks like a strong contender for trainer Michael Machowsky and jockey Paul Atkinson. He has won all four of his races. He has a versatile running style which will come in handy due to the short field in this event. The son of Cat Dreams rallied strongly last out to win a statebred stakes event by 1 3/4 lengths. La Nez finished third in that race and will be racing against Blind Luck in the Las Virgenes earlier on the card. If she fares well it would flatter the form of this gelding.

American Lion enters this race after a winning effort in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue. The Eion Harty trainee broke onto the scene with a 6 3/4 length maiden special weight win at Keeneland. He is also a son of Tiznow like his rival Tiz Chrome. Julien Leparoux will pilot the colt. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if he was able to put together a big effort and win this race.

Dave In Dixie and Tango Tango round out the field. The latter ships in from Golden Gate and the prior was last seen finishing 6th in the Norfolk Stakes.

Who is your top selection for the Robert B. Lewis Stakes?

Bob Baffert’s barn is stacked with three-year-olds this year; who would’ve thought? He sends out stakes winning Macias and Tiz Chrome in this race. Macias won a minor stakes event on the turf in his last trip to the track . He will have to prove he can run on the main track if he wants to win here. Tiz Chrome is a perfect two for two and has blazing early speed. I have my doubts about his ability to stretch his speed out, but I never doubt a Baffert runner.

Caracortado is the most proven runner in the field. He has won all four of his starts and most recently found the winners circle going two turns in a Cal bred stakes race. His style fits this race very well and should be a handful for jockey Paul Atkinson. Trainer Michael Machowsky also bred the gelding.

Dave In Dixie is in with a shot for trainer John Sadler and jockey Joel Rosario. He was an impressive debut winner last summer, but ran 6th in the Grade 1 Norfolk after that. This will be his first race in several months. The colt probably won’t be ready off the shelf, but nothing is impossible.

Tango Tango has been running at Golden Gate and will try to win here for Rafeal Bejarano and Jerry Hollendorfer. Domonation was last seen running third behind Conveyance in the Grade 3 San Rafeal.

Who do you like in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes? My picks and plays are available by clicking here.