Medina Spirit Emerges With Narrow Victory In Robert B. Lewis Stakes

In a gutty gate to wire performance, Medina Spirit fought off all challengers to take Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes by a neck and thus stamped himself a top tier Derby hopeful for Bob Baffert.  Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. and ridden by Abel Cedillo, Medina Spirit got 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.26 over a Santa Anita main track listed as “good” due to recent rains that deposited 2.4 inches of rain through noon on Friday.

Sent to the lead while head and head with Parnelli and Wipe the Slate into the clubhouse turn, Medina Spirit was pressed up the backside by Wipe the Slate, who was three quarters of length back three furlongs out.  With a length advantage at the top of the stretch, Medina Spirit drifted out a bit and was immediately engaged by Hot Rod Charlie and Roman Centurian in a thrilling three-horse battle to the wire. Baffert's other entrant, Spielberg, finished fourth.

The top four finishers earned 10-4-2-1 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Updated Kentucky Derby leaderboard

“He's a very game horse,” said Cedillo, who collected his third win on the day and who has now ridden the Florida-bred colt by Protonico in all three of his races.  “At the quarter pole, I didn't know, but he looked around and when he saw those horses, he kept going.  He didn't get tired at all.  On the gallop out (after the wire), he was by himself.”

A close second to highly regarded stablemate Life is Good going one mile in the G3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 2, Medina Spirit was heavily backed as the even-money favorite in a field of six sophomores and paid $4.00, $2.80 and $2.20.

“That reminded me a little bit of Silver Charm (1997 Kentucky Derby winner),” said Baffert, who rung up his record ninth Lewis win today.  “He had every reason to give it up late in the stretch (when) those horses came to him.  I thought he was beat.  I thought they were going to get by and he wouldn't let them by, he fought on.

“…We just have to keep him healthy.  It's a really tiring track, he went real fast early, but he showed that he had the qualities there.  It's nice to win the Robert B. Lewis because it means so much to me.  I would have liked my other horse (fourth place finisher Spielberg) to run better than he did, but those things happen.”

A first-out maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs at Los Alamitos Dec. 11, Medina Spirit, who is out of the Brilliant Speed mare Mongolian Changa, was sold for just $35,000 at public auction last July after being purchased for $1,000 as a yearling – both sales at Ocala Breeders' Sales Company.  With today's winnings of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $95,200 from three starts.

Trained by Simon Callaghan, Roman Centurian, an impressive 1 1/16 mile maiden winner on Jan. 3, was last early and rallied resolutely while caught five wide turning for home to best Hot Rod Charlie by a nose for second money.  Off at 11-1 with Juan Hernandez, Roman Centurian paid $7.60 and $3.80.

A close second in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 6, Doug O'Neill's Hot Rod Charlie ran huge off the bench, finishing 11 lengths clear of Spielberg.  Ridden by Joel Rosario, Hot Rod Charlie was the second choice at 5-2 and paid $2.60 to show.

Fractions on the race, all set by the winner, were 22.89, 46.61, 1:12.36 and 1:39.34.

Named in honor of the late Thoroughbred owner and philanthropist Robert B. Lewis, who along with his wife Beverly, owned two Kentucky Derby winners, Silver Charm in 1997 and Charismatic in 1999, the Lewis winner receives 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, with four to second, two to third  and one point to the fourth place finisher.

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Baffert Looking For Spielberg To Supply Him A Ninth Victory In Robert B. Lewis Stakes

Should Bob Baffert win Saturday's Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., he could “retire the cup,” as the expression goes.

It would mark the third straight victory in the steppingstone to the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3 for the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer.

Baffert won the Lewis last year with Thousand Words and in 2019 with Mucho Gusto. Overall, he has won it a record eight times, dating back to 1999 with General Challenge.

Subsequent winners were Domestic Dispute (2003), Pioneerof the Nile (2009), Flashback (2013), Dortmund (2015), Mor Spirit (2016) and the aforementioned Mucho Gusto and Thousand Words.

First run in 1935 as the Santa Catalina Handicap, this will mark the 83rd edition of the race, no matter its name or distance.

Baffert has two Triple Crown prospects nominated to the Lewis, but is likely to run only Spielberg, opting to wait and see how issues such as weather play out with Medina Spirit.

“Spielberg is definite, but Medina Spirit could run; I'm not certain,” Baffert said. “We're going to have a lot of rain next week so I'm not sure.” Both horses worked five furlongs Friday in the identical time of 1:01.20.

Spielberg won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity at a mile and one-sixteenth by a desperate nose over Doug O'Neill's 33-1 longshot The Great One last Dec. 19 and has displayed an advantageous stalking style. The Great One came back to win on Saturday, Jan. 23, by 14 lengths.

“He's been immature but he's improving mentally,” Baffert said of the $1-million son of Union Rags owned by a partnership of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, et al.

The Robert B. Lewis is named in honor of the late owner whose Silver Charm (co-owned with wife, Beverly) provided Bob Baffert with his first Kentucky Derby win in 1998.  The Lewis's would also go on to win the 1999 Derby with the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Charismatic.

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Florida Thoroughbred History Moments: Silver Charm Flies The Florida Flag Around The World

Two-thirds of the Triple Crown, a Dubai World Cup win, a dead heat, a dramatic Breeders' Cup, and a stud career in Japan encapsulates the incredible international success of beloved Florida-bred Silver Charm.

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association has launched a digital campaign promoting the successful history of Florida-breds born and raised in the Sunshine State.

The series titled “Florida Thoroughbred History Moment” features an opening and closing image of an old-timey newsreel much like those featured in movie theaters in the 1940s. Along with the sound of the whirr of the newsreel, each video is narrated by the distinctive voice of Hugh Kelly giving an even more nostalgic feel. Based in Florida, Kelly lends his voice perfectly to the series.

Each 'Florida Thoroughbred History Moment' vignette highlights a significant achievement in Florida-bred history focusing on the people, the horses and the farms that have contributed to its success since the industry kicked off in earnest after Needles' 1956 Kentucky Derby win.

View the previous Florida Thoroughbred History Moments installment on Needles here.

To watch the Florida Thoroughbred History Moments video on Dr. Fager, click here.

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‘Florida Thoroughbred History Moments’ Focus On Sunshine State’s Successful Industry

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association has launched a digital campaign promoting the successful history of Florida-breds born and raised in the Sunshine State.

The series titled “Florida Thoroughbred History Moment” features an opening and closing image of an old-timey newsreel much like those featured in movie theaters in the 1940s. Along with the sound of the whir of the newsreel, each video is narrated by the distinctive voice of Robert Clotworthy giving an even more nostalgic feel. Clotworthy is the narrator for the History Channel series Ancient Aliens and The Curse of Oak Island and he lends his voice perfectly to the series.

Each 'Florida Thoroughbred History Moment' vignette highlights a significant achievement in Florida-bred history focusing on the people, the horses and the farms that have contributed to its success since the industry kicked off in earnest after Needles' 1956 Kentucky Derby win.

The first history moment on Needles launched the series with the signature line given in Clotworthy's deepest voice, “And now a Florida Thoroughbred History Moment… “

Needles put the state on the map as the first horse born in Florida to win the Kentucky Derby and he later set another milestone winning the first Belmont Stakes. His acclaim led many to visit Central Florida to see for themselves the Thoroughbreds raised on limestone rich soil and drinking from the spring fed aquifers. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, local lore has it that more people bought real estate in Marion County thanks to Needles' fame more than any realtor's effort.

The second video in the series focuses upon the O'Farrells' Ocala Stud, the oldest active stud farm in the state. Still using their original stud barn and training barn, which is the oldest wooden horse barn in the state, Ocala Stud's 1960's slogan 'If you want a runner look to Ocala Stud' is featured prominently.

In 1968, Dr. Fager became the world's fastest miler and still holds the record today. The swift horse is featured in the series with a reminiscence photo of him coming home to Ocala greeted by school children holding signs saying, “Dr. Fager is No. 1” and “Welcome Home Champion.” Also, as part of that welcome back, local police pulled over the trailer with the horse inside on Highway 200. Dr. Fager was issued a speeding ticket for 'reckless speed' for his stellar performance ontrack, and the ticket noted his make and style as 'horse' and 'fast'. Additionally, he was inducted into the local Chamber of Commerce.

The next video in the series features Unbridled and the great television moment between trainer Carl Nafzger and owner Mrs. Francis Genter. The poignant moment was captured by NBC during the horse's legendary Kentucky Derby run. His legacy as a sire of champions for more than four decades is also highlighted.

Winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Silver Charm showcased the talent coming out of the Ocala Breeders' Sales and gave rising stars Bob Baffert and the McKathan Brothers the limelight. The gray gained international fame winning the Dubai World Cup, then later joining the stallion ranks in Japan. The vignette also points out Michael Blowen's love for the horse which led to the creation of Old Friends farm and the moment Blowen's dream came true when Silver Charm came back to the states and retired there.

Of course, no Florida series would be complete without Affirmed, the state's Triple Crown winner and longest title holder at 37 years. His hard fought wins in the classics over Alydar are some of the greatest moments in sports rivalry history.

The videos also feature the FTBOA logo and the Discover Florida Horses logo developed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The campaign is an example of the global promotions of thoroughbreds and the thoroughbred industry in state of Florida. The video series is available for use by farms and businesses promoting Florida Thoroughbreds and is also aired regularly on Horse Capital Television.

The series is also part of a newly launching campaign on social media focusing on Facebook groups that have an interest in Thoroughbred history and the sport of horse racing. The series can also be seen on the FTBOA YouTube channel.

The goal is to expand the series into 'Florida Thoroughbred History Profiles' over coming years to include the oral history handed down from horseman to horseman. The first two profiles aired in September and featured 2017 Godolphin award honoree Lugusta “Gus” Gray who has worked more than 50 years on farms, first for Fred Hooper and now Donald Dizney's Double Diamond Farm.

FTBOA's Associate Vice President-Membership Services and Events, Tammy A. Gantt scripts and produces each segment. The series was a brainchild of hers thanks to her love of the history of the sport and her more than 25 years in the Florida industry.

Lonny Powell, CEO of FTBOA said, “The goal of our video series and social media campaign is to showcase the history of success of Florida horses, horsemen and farms. We began this program more than two years ago and have added to the series, expanded it and now rolled it into other platforms like social media which we've seen significantly grow since the pandemic began earlier this year.”

He added, “The series can continue for quite some time as we've had 52 national champions, six Kentucky Derby champions, seven Preakness winners, six Belmonts, 28 Breeders' Cup wins, 66 Eclipse Awards and more than 170 Florida-bred millionaires and growing.”

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