Mucho Gusto targets Robert Lewis Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The next week at Santa Anita could be a pivotal time for some of the circuit’s 3-year-olds.

An allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option at a mile is scheduled for Thursday, two days before the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Several trainers have horses that could go in either spot.

The Lewis Stakes is part of the build-up to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6. Mucho Gusto, second to stablemate Improbable in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 8, is a candidate for the $150,000 Lewis Stakes along with Extra Hope, who was third in the Los Alamitos Futurity.

The Lewis Stakes is one of three graded stakes on the Saturday program, along with the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes for older horses at 1 1/8 miles and the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf. The $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes is a prep for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 9.

The San Pasqual Stakes is expected to include Battle of Midway, Giant Expectations and Pavel and possibly McKinzie, the winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Dec. 26.

Pavel is under consideration for the Dubai World Cup on March 30, pending how he runs in the San Pasqual, trainer Doug O’Neill said. Pavel was 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last November and last of 15 in the Grade 1 Champions Cup on dirt in Japan on Dec. 2 in his most recent start.