No standouts in solid Lewis field
ARCADIA, Calif. – While the top 3-year-olds in California sit out the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, an allowance-caliber field will race 1 1/16 miles for a $150,000 purse and 10 Kentucky Derby points to the winner.
All nine Lewis entrants are eligible to the first condition, but a Jan. 25 allowance route for 3-year-olds was scrapped due to insufficient entries.
“The allowance race didn’t go,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said, explaining how Ayacara ended up in the Lewis on dirt after running sixth on turf. And yes, there is another reason.
“It’s that time of year,” Desormeaux said. “We all have Derby fever, even an old [guy] like me. Besides that, we think he is that caliber. The horse exudes class. He’s fresh, he’s sound, he’s talented, he’s classy – why not give him the chance?”
Ayacara, who earned his highest figure on dirt, is one of many contenders in a wide-open Lewis. Although it lacks an established stakes runner such as McKinzie, Bolt d’Oro, Solomini, or Instilled Regard, the Lewis field is respectable.
“It’s a tough one-other-than,” said Dark Vader’s trainer, Peter Eurton. “It’s a ‘real’ one-other-than.”
Question is, are there any genuine Derby prospects? The Lewis, race 5, includes likely favorite Peace; last-out maiden winners Pepe Tono and Lombo; turf specialist Inscom; Shivermetimbers; and two maidens – Regulate and Blame the Rider.
KEY CONTENDERS
Ayacara, by Violence
Last 3 Beyers: 74-67-81
◗ He is reunited with jockey Kent Desormeaux, who rode him to a second in the Gold Rush in December at Golden Gate and a fourth in the Grade 1 Front Runner in fall at Santa Anita.
◗ Ayacara adds blinkers. “It’s not to change his running style,” Keith Desormeaux said. “It’s to make him more focused.”
◗ Desormeaux is satisfied with the colt’s progression; the Lewis is his third start following a short layoff. “He’s a big, rangy horse,” he said. “He’s improving every start.”
Peace, by Violence
Last 3 Beyers: 76-88-76
◗ He also adds blinkers. “In a couple of his races, the riders say he looks around and gets distracted,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “I think he needs something to put him into it a little bit.”
◗ After the colt’s maiden win last out, jockey Mike Smith told Mandella that Peace “was not giving me 100 percent.”
“He’s kind of daydreaming,” Smith told Mandella.
◗ Peace finished second in both starts prior to his maiden win. “It’s time to see if he can swim in the deep end of the pool,” Mandella said.
Pepe Tono, by Bodemeister
Beyers: 80-69
◗ His come-from-behind maiden victory was partly due to the fastest fractions of the meet for one mile (46.38 and 1:11.89). Pepe Tono rallied from last under rider Evin Roman.
◗ He is wheeling back in 15 days. “It’s a little close,” trainer Victor Garcia acknowledged. “It doesn’t matter for him, because the horse didn’t get tired the last time he ran. The more distance, the better. He’s still green – he’s started only twice. He has a lot to learn.”
Shivermetimbers, by Shanghai Bobby
Last 3 Beyers: 84-89-87
◗ Fourth last out in the Grade 3 Sham after contesting the pace, he could adopt come-from-behind tactics with new rider Rafael Bejarano. Jerry Hollendorfer trains.
Inscom, by Distorted Humor
Last 3 Beyers: 84-80-74
◗ He finished second in the Eddie Logan on turf. “This is the right time to try the dirt,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “We still have time for the Pasadena if he doesn’t handle it. If he does, it opens up some doors.”
Lombo, by Graydar
Last 3 Beyers: 81-73-52
◗ He wheels back two weeks after a front-running maiden sprint win, and is expected to set the pace.