Robert B. Lewis S. | Horse Racing Free Tips

Protonico Colt Keeps Finding for Baffert in Bob Lewis

MEDINA SPIRIT (c, 3, Protonico–Mongolian Changa, by Brilliant Speed) looked to be in deep water throughout the stretch of Santa Anita's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Saturday, but somehow the pacesetter held off two challengers to get his head down on the line. Roman Centurian (Empire Maker) and Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) were second and third, respectively. The final time was 1:46.26. Favored at even money, Medina Spirit was last seen finishing second to his highly regarded stablemate Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GIII Sham S. here Jan. 2. He broke his maiden first out in a Los Al sprint Dec. 11. This was trainer Bob Baffert's record ninth Lewis win, and the first black-type win for young sire Protonico (Giant's Causeway). Sales history: $1,000 ylg '19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0.
O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc. B-Gail Rice (FL). T-Bob Baffert.

Saturday, Santa Anita
ROBERT B. LEWIS S.-GIII, $100,500, Santa Anita, 1-30, 3yo,
1 1/16m, 1:46.26, gd.
1–MEDINA SPIRIT, 120, c, 3, by Protonico
                1st Dam: Mongolian Changa, by Brilliant Speed
                2nd Dam: Bridled, by Unbridled
                3rd Dam: Holy Niner, by Holy Bull
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($1,000 Ylg
'19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20 OBSOPN). O-Zedan Racing
Stables Inc; B-Gail Rice (FL); T-Bob Baffert; J-Abel Cedillo.
$60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $105,200. Werk Nick
   Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Roman Centurian, 120, c, 3, Empire Maker–Spare Change, by
Bernardini. ($550,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Don Alberto Stable
and Qatar Racing Limited; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY);
T-Simon Callaghan. $20,000.
3–Hot Rod Charlie, 120, c, 3, Oxbow–Indian Miss, by Indian
Charlie. ($17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT).
O-Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, LLC and Strauss, William;
B-Edward A. Cox (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $12,000.
Margins: NK, NO, 11. Odds: 1.00, 11.20, 2.50.
Also Ran: Spielberg, Parnelli, Wipe the Slate. Scratched: Rombauer, Waspirant. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Baffert Shoots for Record Ninth Robert B. Lewis Victory

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert will have two shots at adding to his growing record with a potential ninth win in Saturday's GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita.

The improving $1-million Keeneland September graduate Spielberg (Union Rags), MGISP as a juvenile, posted a hard-fought, breakthrough nose victory in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity last time Dec. 19. The runner-up that day The Great One (Nyquist), meanwhile, returned with a flashy, 14-length maiden victory for trainer Doug O'Neill last weekend, good for a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

Baffert will also saddle Medina Spirit (Protonico), who cut his highly regarded unbeaten stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief)'s margin of victory to just 3/4 of a length second time out in the GIII Sham S. Jan. 2.

Medina Spirit, the morning-line favorite at 5-2, has been assigned the rail while Spielberg drew widest of all in post eight.

“I don't like being stuck inside, and on the outside, you lose ground, but I think we'll learn more about both horses,” Baffert said. “Right now, we're just trying to figure out their styles and how good they are. They'll start separating themselves. Until they go a mile and an eighth, that's when you'll really know.”

O'Neill will also be represented by a pair of promising sophomores in this deep contest, headed by last out GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile longshot runner-up at 94-1 Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow). The half-brother to champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya) previously earned his diploma in game fashion by a neck locally at fourth asking.

O'Neill's other charge Wipe the Slate (Nyquist) tries two turns for the first time. A well-beaten second behind the aforementioned Life Is Good first out Nov. 22, he took a big step forward with a strong maiden win going seven furlongs in Arcadia last time Dec. 26.

Roman Centurian (Empire Maker) received the 'TDN Rising Star' nod following a visually impressive, come-from-behind maiden tally at second asking over course and distance last time Jan. 3. The $550,000 Keeneland September yearling was previously fourth, beaten 12 1/4 lengths, behind Life Is Good and Wipe the Slate at Del Mar.

The Robert B. Lewis carries 10-4-2-1 qualifying points on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby.

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GISP Hot Rod Charlie Works for O’Neill; Targets Lewis

Already a winner of the GI Kentucky Derby with 2016 hero Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley) in 2012, trainer Doug O’Neill is looking forward to the New Year with Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), Wipe the Slate (Nyquist) and Team Merchants (Nyquist) among his well-regarded sophomores.

Hot Rod Charlie worked five furlongs at Santa Anita Saturday in a bullet :59.40, fastest of 64 drills at the distance. A narrow winner in his fourth career start at Santa Anita on October, Hot Rod Charlie closed to finish second-at whopping odds of 94-1–behind likely 2020 2-year-old male Eclipse champion Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 6.

“Hot Rod Charlie is doing great and we’re pointing him to the [GIII] Bob Lewis S.,” said O’Neill, referring to the Robert B. Lewis S. at a mile and a sixteenth Jan. 30.

The Lewis, first run in 1935 as the Santa Catalina S., offers 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, four to the runner-up, two to the third-place finisher and one to the fourth.

A son of O’Neill’s former pupil Nyquist, Wipe the Slate also worked Saturday, covering five furlongs in 1:01.20. Wearing blinkers for the first time, Wipe the Slate scored an impressive maiden win Dec. 26 at Santa Anita after finishing second in his debut to undefeated Sham S. winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Life Is Good (Into Mischief) at Del Mar Nov. 22.

“Wipe the Slate is doing super, but I’m not sure where he’s going to blend in after that win,” O’Neill said. “It’s been two weeks, so we really haven’t pointed him to the next spot.

Also a son of the 2015 champion juvenile colt, Team Merchants won at second asking at Saratoga Sept. 7 after being fractious in the gate.

“Team Merchants had a little injury, so he’s at the farm until he’s 100%,” O’Neill added, alluding to principal owner J. Paul Reddam’s Ocean Breeze Ranch in Bonsall.

Reddam Racing owned both of O’Neill’s Derby winners and the team also combined to take the Lewis with Great Hunter in 2007 and I’ll Have Another in 2012.

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