Gunmetal Gray takes small step up in Robert Lewis Stakes

It’s the nature of the Kentucky Derby prep season that the races get tougher as they get closer to Derby Day on May 4. Gunmetal Gray showed last year that he wasn’t quite good enough to handle divisional champion Game Winner, and he benefitted from significant class relief last time out in the Sham Stakes, which he won by rallying from last to first.

Game Winner awaits later on, as he’s scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in March. In the meantime, Gunmetal Gray will try an intermediate step when he faces a slightly stronger field than the one he defeated in the Sham but that is likely inferior to what he will meet in coming months when he seeks his second straight win Saturday at Santa Anita in the Grade 3, $150,000 Robert Lewis Stakes.

The Lewis, at 1 1/16 miles – 110 yards farther than the Sham – offers 10 points to the winner on the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the Derby field. The point value is the same as in the Sham.

Gunmetal Gray has run two good races at Santa Anita. In addition to the Sham, he was second to Game Winner in the Grade 1 American Pharoah last fall. His trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, has an impressive roster of Derby prospects – he’s also got the comebacking Instagrand and the rapidly improving California-bred Galilean – and he’s hoping Gunmetal Gray can make the necessary progress Saturday.

“We understand there’s a little more competition,” Hollendorfer said. “It’s an important race for everybody.”

Six are entered in the Lewis. The likely favorite is Mucho Gusto, who won his first two starts sprinting before finishing second to his highly regarded Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Improbable in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Los Alamitos last time out. The most dangerous rival to the top two appears to be Nolo Contesto, who beat maidens last time out in his first start around two turns after an adventurous sprint debut at Del Mar.

The Lewis goes as race 6 on a 10-race card that begins at noon. It is the second leg of the Rainbow pick six, which has a mandatory payout Saturday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Gunmetal Gray, by Exchange Rate
Last 3 Beyers: 82-73-90

◗ He was taken back and allowed to make one run last time in a race whose shape flattered his style, as it was fast early, slow late.

“We thought he ran a real good race,” Hollendorfer said.

◗ Mike Smith, who rode him for the first time last time, is back aboard.

◗ He carries top weight of 124 pounds, two more than Mucho Gusto. Everyone else carries 120.

Mucho Gusto, by Mucho Macho Man
Last 3 Beyers: 88-86-80

◗ He has taken a step forward on figs in all three of his starts, but the jury is still out on how far he wants to run, and at the moment he’s no better than third on the barn’s Derby depth chart behind Game Winner and Improbable.

◗ There doesn’t appear to be much pace in this race, so he and regular rider Joe Talamo should be able to dictate the way this race unfolds. The race goes through him.

Nolo Contesto, by Pioneerof the Nile
Beyers: 80-66

◗ Although he got a moderate fig when beating maidens last time out, he overcame a wide trip and acted as though he’s only going to get better with more racing and more distance.

◗ His victory last time out came at the expense of Omaha Beach, a maiden who has been second in his last three starts and is scheduled to run in race 5, a half-hour before the Lewis.

Magnificent McCool, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 77-68-71

◗ He finally beat maidens last time out in his sixth start and his second start on turf, but it was only his second try going long while wearing blinkers, and his first with jockey Flavien Prat, who is back aboard.

◗ It might be coming together at just the right time for this expensive ($625,000) 2-year-old purchase.