Newgate wins Robert B. Lewis Stakes in an all-Bob Baffert race

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There was by no means a query that coach Bob Baffert would have a horse win Saturday’s Grade 3 $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita since he skilled all 4 within the embarrassingly small area. The solely query was which one would cross the end line first.

It turned out to be the favourite, Newgate, with Frankie Dettori aboard. It was Newgate’s second win in six begins.

It was a Kentucky Derby factors qualifying race, besides that Baffert is at the moment not allowed to accrue Derby factors as a result of he’s one yr right into a two-year ban from Churchill Downs after the contested disqualification of Medina Spirit within the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

On Saturday, Arabian Knight went to the lead within the 1 1/16-mile race. Newgate was comfy behind the compact area early within the race. Dettori urged the 3-year-old to maneuver up coming into the far flip after which discovered himself operating with Hard to Figure on the high of the stretch. Newgate, operating on the surface, pulled forward late and received by a neck.

Newgate paid $4.00 and $2.60 adopted by Hard to Figure, Worcester and Arabian Lion. There was no present betting.

“I was actually nervous before the race, worried that something weird might happen,” Baffert instructed Santa Anita’s media relations division. “But I can relax now.”

Baffert received the Lewis for the eleventh time. He was a coach for the late horse proprietor and philanthropist.

“Frankie Dettori has been teaching [Newgate] how to sit back, relax and come up with a punch and that’s what he did,” Baffert stated of Saturday’s race. “Arabian Lion looked like he was in a good spot, came up a little tired, and we are not sure about the distance limitations.

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“Worcester was right there and I think Hard to Figure ran an incredible race. … I’m very proud of all of them.”

The undeniable fact that Baffert had the one horses within the stakes is a testomony to his dominance of 3-year-old dust racing at Santa Anita, the place a majority of the horses run on the turf.

All the Kentucky Derby factors from the Lewis Stakes have been vacated, for now. Baffert was in Kentucky on Thursday and Friday as a part of a preliminary injunction he has filed in opposition to Churchill Downs that might permit him to enter horses on this yr’s Kentucky Derby.

One problem that was raised through the two-day listening to in a federal courthouse was that the constructive take a look at for scopolamine on Justify in 2018 was a think about Churchill’s choice to droop the coach.

Baffert legal professional Clark Brewster then bought Churchill Downs observe president Mike Anderson to say he didn’t know that the California Horse Racing Board case in opposition to Baffert was dismissed as a result of the constructive take a look at was the results of contamination that affected horses in different barns.

The decide is predicted to problem a choice within the subsequent few weeks.

In different races Saturday at Santa Anita, Quattroelle ($23.60 to win) received the one-mile turf Grade 3 $100,000 Megahertz Stakes, Fun to Dream (3.00) received the Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes over seven furlongs and Earls Rock ($9.80) took the one-mile turf Grade 3 $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes.