All four entrants in Robert Lewis Stakes from Baffert barn

ARCADIA, Calif. - The field for the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita on Saturday will consist of four entrants trained by Bob Baffert.

The $200,000 race at 1 1/16 miles drew 16 nominations – 14 trained by Baffert as well as Eastbound, trained by John Shirreffs, and Thirsty John, trained by Peter Miller.

Baffert has entered Arabian Lion, Hard to Figure, Newgate and Worcester, Santa Anita racing officials said.

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Shirreffs said on Sunday that he plans to run Eastbound in a maiden race on turf, while Thirsty John is being pointed for the $100,000 Mine That Bird Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Sunland Park on Feb. 26, co-owner Terry Lovingier and Miller said on Sunday.

The Lewis will be run as the third race on a 10-race program that begins at noon Pacific.

Arabian Lion was last of five as the 2-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 17, while Hard to Figure was last of five in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 20.

Newgate was second to stablemate Reincarnate in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita on Jan. 8. Worcester is a maiden after two starts, including a second to stablemate Hejazi in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs.

The Lewis Stakes is part of the Kentucky Derby qualifying series, offering points (20-8-6-4-2) to the first five finishers.

The Baffert-trained runners will not be eligible to earn points since the Hall of Fame trainer is suspended from starting horses in the Kentucky Derby this year because of a medication violation found in 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit. The penalty was enacted by Churchill Downs in 2021 for a two-year period.

Baffert’s leading 3-year-olds must be transferred to other trainers by Feb. 28 to be eligible to earn Kentucky Derby points in stakes in March or April.

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