01/23/2013 6:14PM

Santa Anita: Flashback works toward Robert Lewis

By Steve Andersen
Email
Shigeki Kikkawa
Flashback is being pointed to the Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 2.

Flashback, a sharp maiden race winner in his 2-year-old debut at Hollywood Park on Dec. 8, worked five furlongs in 58.60 seconds Wednesday.

Trainer Bob Baffert said that Flashback is expected to make his next start in the $200,000 Robert Lewis Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 2.

In Wednesday’s workout, Flashback worked in company with a stablemate, starting about two lengths behind. He moved alongside with a wide move on the turn and finished slightly in front under jockey Martin Garcia.

Flashback galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.40, according to Baffert. On Jan. 17, Flashback worked a half-mile in 46.60, the fastest of 35 recorded works at the distance.

By Tapit, Flashback is owned by Gary and Mary West and is considered one of the Baffert stable’s finest 3-year-old prospects.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

John 10 months ago
This horse is the real deal !..........he won so freaking easy first time out, and gallopoed out like a mile and a 1/4 was up right up his alley ! I know betting maiden winners against stakes caliber is "iffy" but this maybe the last betting value we see on this horse !
Bellwether4U 10 months ago
Tapit is due to throw a SUPER colt/gelding...Maybe this is the ONE if they don't screw him in the ground.. He sure looks the part...ty...
David Brandt 10 months ago
This horse reminds me of Silver Charm.
Thomas Cook 10 months ago
This colt is a serious Triple Crown prospect. TAPIT is becoming an amazing sire. But this colts dam side is dangerous!
akhiym james 10 months ago
Man what ever happened to bringing the horse up through the conditions it fits and then taking on stake caliber horses. Nowadays they win a maiden race and then straight to graded stakes. This is another reason why our horses don't last long. They take on tough competition before they pass through the conditions and it kills their spirit. This horse has a chance to be good but I don't think he should take graded staked foes just yet. Baffert really doesn't have a major Derby contender. This is really rare because he's always in the hunt but if this is his best prospect he's in trouble. Power Broker is inconsistent the horse he owns with Bode Miller is not good in graded stakes competition. I know Baffert wants a derby contender bad and he's gonna try and make every horse that has a possibility of making noise on the derby trail a contender. He's not getting the good horses he used to with young trainers doing good. This year might be 1st he doesn't run in Derby in a long time.
Gene 10 months ago
People I respect on the West Coast say this is far and away the most talented three-year-old out there
mdavis8357 10 months ago
You have no clue.
mdavis8357 10 months ago
Gene is correct, I meant James has no clue.
David Rose 10 months ago
Mdavis8357....so I guess Charlie Whittingham had NO CLUE either, when he ALWAYS went thru the 1st and sometimes 2nd ALW conditions, befo re taking on graded company??!! Pfft!
Nick Gunritz 10 months ago
times change
mdavis8357 10 months ago
No clue was a little harsh, my apologies. I was referring to his statement that Baffert has no contenders. Amy and Gerardo are correct - they don't really write the 1x condition very often in California so trainers with the talented young horses all head for stakes.
unmarx1 10 months ago
still bombing away ? BC should have been good to you, Tapizar, Trinni, etc. LMars.
Amy Hurley 10 months ago
As Nick notes, below, "times change." If almost all horses (especially 2 year olds and young 3 year olds) these days go directly from a maiden win to a stakes, even a graded stakes, then no one is really in over their heads, because they all have approximately the same amount of experience. Unlike, say, Gulfstream, where conditioned allowances are fairly common, most tracks just don't write enough such races to consistently fill them. Thus, trainers have little choice but to put their recent maiden-breakers in stakes competition.
Gerardo Helguera 10 months ago
Out here in the West Coast trainers have no choice but to put them against graded stakes competition because there are not many allowance races for 3yo like on the east coast
Jennifer Herrington 10 months ago
I was the lucky rider who got to start him in Ocala. He gave me goosebumps everyday. He's like a Ferrari - feels like 55, but going 120. All appendages crossed for my boy! He's the real deal:)
mfunicello 10 months ago
any one know who is riding?
mdavis8357 10 months ago
Leparoux.
mfunicello 10 months ago
i hope but garcia is working him
Gerardo Helguera 10 months ago
Garcia works almost all of Bafferts horses nothing new
Barry Mitchell 10 months ago
Oh this colt is going to be a good one. California grays always excel.