Big Lew scores in Los Alamitos Super Derby

CYPRESS, Calif. – Big Lew, who was sixth and 10th in two major derbies at Ruidoso Downs during the summer, won the richest race of his career in Sunday’s $767,750 Los Alamitos Super Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horses.

The win gives Big Lew an automatic berth in the $600,000 Champion of Champions against older horses at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10, a race that annually plays an important role in year-end voting.

Big Lew ($18.60) ran 400 yards in 19.72 seconds, finishing a half-length ahead of Rite Regal, the 6-5 favorite. Time for Jess was third, a length behind Big Lew, in a field of 10.

Ridden by Jimmy Brooks, Big Lew broke well and led by a neck after the first 100 yards. Owned by Gary McKinney’s Reliance Ranches of Llano, Texas, Big Lew is trained by Mike Robbins. A 3-year-old colt by Corona Cartel, Big Lew has won 7 of 17 starts and earned $525,189.

Big Lew was fourth in the $274,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in March, sixth in the $1,068,631 Ruidoso Derby in June, and last of 10 in the $1.2 million Rainbow Derby in July.