Despite romp in last, Sir London still needs to step up in Lewis

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sir London’s first race around two turns went as well as his connections could have hoped. But it was against maidens. Messier’s first race around two turns was a disappointment, as he finished second without an apparent excuse, albeit in a Grade 2 stakes.

On Sunday at Santa Anita, Sir London will attempt to continue his ascent, while Messier will look to rebound from that surprising defeat, when they head a field of five in the Grade 3, $200,000 Robert Lewis Stakes for Kentucky Derby aspirants.

The Lewis, at 1 1/16 miles, is race 8 of nine. It offers 17 points overall, including 10 to the winner, toward a berth in the May 7 Derby. Two of the entrants – Messier and Wharton – cannot earn points in this race, so at least one point will go unclaimed.

Sir London, a $700,000 buy at Timonium last May, was second in a pair of sprints at Santa Anita and then Del Mar last fall before a 10-length romp last time out going a mile at Los Alamitos Dec. 4. Flavien Prat, who has been aboard for all three of his races, sticks with him after having ridden Messier in three prior tries.

Sir London, by Malibu Moon out of a Seeking the Gold mare, got a Beyer Speed Figure of 80 last time out. Improvement will be needed, both Sunday and in coming months.

“I thought his last race was a very good performance. Against those horses, he needed to do that, and he did it well,” Simon Callaghan, who trains Sir London, said earlier this week at Santa Anita. “Two turns was no problem, which makes sense with his pedigree.”

Sir London drew post 2, with Messier just to his inside.

Messier got in front of Slow Down Andy at mid-stretch of the Los Alamitos Futurity last time out, but surrendered the lead late. His trainer, Bob Baffert, added blinkers last time after taking them off for his prior race, a win in the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar. They are back off for this race, and Messier heads into the Lewis following a terrific drill last Sunday morning, a five-furlong move in 59.40 seconds that was the fastest of 72 at the distance that morning and in which he appeared to be going the better of his workmate.

His stablemate, Wharton – who also worked last Sunday, but not with Messier – got a mere 70 Beyer figure for his debut sprinting on Dec. 31. But two horses already have emerged from that race to win with significantly improved next-out figures, per Formulator, so his figure too may be underrated. He is quick, and being by Candy Ride out of a mare by Include should not have distance limitations.

Baffert has won the Lewis a record nine times.

Cabo Spirit, the most experienced horse in the field with seven starts, moves back to dirt – on which he’s 0 for 2 – after winning two of his last three in one-mile grass races.

Happy Jack is wheeled back two weeks following a 24-1 upset victory on debut sprinting.