Encoder, Royal Act slated for surface switch in Robert Lewis Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Encoder and Royal Act, first and fifth in the Eddie Logan Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf on Dec. 29, are scheduled to have their first start on dirt in Saturday’s Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

Encoder won the Del Mar Juvenile Turf in September and was sixth in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint here in November. He has worked well enough on dirt for owners Pete and Kosta Hronis and trainer John Sadler to entertain a surface switch.

Encoder worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on dirt on Saturday.

“He had a good work in company in a good time,” Sadler said.

Sadler said plans are not confirmed for Encoder.

“I’m not sure he’ll run,” Sadler said. “We’ll take a look.”

Royal Act will be ridden by leading rider Joel Rosario, trainer Peter Eurton said.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Royal Act won his debut in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf on Nov. 10 at Del Mar and was beaten four lengths in the Eddie Logan Stakes.

The $100,000 Lewis Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds and is a prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

“I think he wants more ground,” Eurton said of Royal Act. “I like the way he trains and the way he’s doing things. He seems to be getting a hold of the dirt better.”

The list of prospective runners in the Lewis Stakes is led by Thousand Words, who won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity last month and is unbeaten in two starts. Trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday that he plans to start Tizamagician, winner of a maiden special weight race at a mile on Jan. 1 in his sixth start.

Saturday’s program has two Grade 2 races for older horses each worth $200,000 – the San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf and the San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

The field for the San Pasqual is expected to be led by Roadster, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby last April and second to Omaha Beach in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 28. Also likely to run are King Abner and Midcourt, who were second and third in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 28.

Oscar Dominguez and United, first and second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 30, lead the prospective San Marcos field. United was second to 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the Breeders’ Cup Turf here on Nov. 2 at 51-1.