Dortmund, Firing Line may meet again in Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Both Dortmund and Firing Line, who finished one-two in a thrilling edition of the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, were reported in good condition by their trainers Sunday morning, and there is the possibility they will meet for a third straight time in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

Dortmund remained unbeaten with his victory in the Lewis, raising his record to 4 for 4. Included in that streak is a victory by a head over Firing Line in the Los Alamitos Futurity seven weeks earlier. After being passed by Firing Line in the Lewis, Dortmund re-rallied to prevail.

“He showed some grit,” trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday morning.

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Baffert said Dortmund is going through a growth spurt, which is notable, considering he’s already huge, and as a result, Baffert’s inclination is to skip next month’s San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita and merely await the Santa Anita Derby.

“He’s happy, and he looks great today,” Baffert said. “I’m just going to play his next race by ear, but I’m not in a hurry to run him back.”

Dortmund and Firing Line both got Beyer Speed Figures of 103 in the Lewis, which is a career-best for both.

For the second straight time, Firing Line lost to Dortmund by the length of Dortmund’s giant head. Simon Callaghan, who trains Firing Line, said it “would be crazy” to bring Firing Line back in the San Felipe after such a tough race, even though Firing Line “came out of the race well.”

Callaghan said his early thoughts were to await the Santa Anita Derby or perhaps go to Sunland Park for the Sunland Derby on March 22.

Both the Los Alamitos Futurity and the Robert Lewis offered the identical point structure under the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the Kentucky Derby field, with 10 for first and four for second. So, Dortmund now has 20 points, while Firing Line has eight.

The last races worth just 10 points to the winner are next weekend’s El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Field and the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. The point structure increases five-fold Feb. 21 with the Risen Star at Fair Grounds and the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream.