01/24/2011 3:47PM

J P's Gusto works seven furlongs for Robert Lewis

By Steve Andersen
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 J P’s Gusto worked seven furlongs in 1:25.40 on Monday at Santa Anita, preparing for his expected 3-year-old debut in the $250,000 Robert Lewis Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 12.

Trainer David Hofmans said that JP’s Gusto worked the final quarter-mile in 23.20 seconds. JP’s Gusto was ridden in the workout by Iggy Puglisi.

“He loves this track,” Hofmans said. “Iggy said he goes so effortlessly over it.”

Owned by Gem, Inc., JP’s Gusto has won 4 of 8 starts and $527,360. He won four stakes at 2, including the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity over seven furlongs in September. Later in the year, JP’s Gusto was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and second in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity.

Tapizar, the winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 15 in his stakes debut, worked a half-mile in 50.40 seconds on Monday. When reached by phone, trainer Steve Asmussen declined to discuss plans for the colt, who races for Winchell Thoroughbreds.