Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert has gained Santa Anita Park’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes on 13 events. In truth, the final seven renewals of the one-mile Highway to the Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve qualifier have gone to Baffert trainees.
There’s a robust probability Baffert will safe an eighth consecutive win when this yr’s version of the $100,000, Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis is contested Saturday. Three of the seven entrants hail from Baffert’s barn.
Two of the Baffert trainees have confirmed their price in opposition to Grade 1 competitors. #1 Desert Gate gained his first two begins, together with the Grade 3 Greatest Pal Stakes, earlier than ending second within the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes Introduced by DK Horse. #2 Plutarch has spent a lot of his profession competing on turf, however he’s additionally run nicely on dust, ending solely a nostril behind Desert Gate when third within the American Pharoah.
In distinction, the third Baffert runner – #3 Cherokee Nation – is winless in 4 begins and completed fifth within the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes at Churchill Downs, his lone strive in opposition to graded stakes competitors. However there’s an opportunity he’ll outrun expectations within the Robert B. Lewis.
Cherokee Nation bumped into site visitors hassle through the early phases of the Kentucky Jockey Membership. Whereas making an attempt to safe the lead on the within, he discovered himself in tight quarters and needed to regular sharply. That’s motive sufficient to forgive his poor displaying.
Cherokee Nation had beforehand completed a pacesetting second in a one-mile maiden particular weight at Santa Anita, overwhelmed solely a nostril by Mr. A. P., who went on to complete second in opposition to a tricky subject within the Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by TAA.
After misfiring within the Kentucky Jockey Membership, Cherokee Nation returned to Santa Anita for an additional one-mile maiden particular weight on Jan. 9. A poor begin left him in the back of a five-horse subject for a lot of the journey, however he blazed his remaining quarter-mile in :23.69 to rally and end second by half a size in opposition to #6 Robusta.
The ending velocity Cherokee Nation displayed on Jan. 9 is an indication of great expertise. With a clear break within the Robert B. Lewis, Cherokee Nation can step ahead and probably submit an upset victory.
We advise betting Cherokee Nation to win, and – in case your finances is large enough – betting him over Plutarch and American Pharoah winner #4 Intrepido in an exacta.
Wagering Technique on a $10 Price range
$10 to win on #3 Cherokee Nation
What to say on the betting window: Santa Anita, eighth race, $10 to win on 3
Wagering Technique on a $30 Price range
$20 to win on #3 Cherokee Nation
What to say on the betting window: Santa Anita, eighth race, $10 to win on 3
$5 exacta: 3 with 2,4 ($10)
What to say on the betting window: Santa Anita, eighth race, $5 exacta 3 with 2,4
Good luck, and benefit from the race!
