Nolo Contesto looks worthy of start in Robert Lewis Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nolo Contesto, the winner of a maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds at a mile last Friday at Santa Anita, may run next in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 2.

Nolo Contesto, sent off at 8-5, finished a half-length in front of even-money favorite Omaha Beach after the two dueled through the stretch. Nolo Contesto ran a mile in 1:37.49, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

“This is the one I’ve liked all along,” said John Sadler, who trains Nolo Contesto for Pete and Kosta Hronis. “If you want to make the calendar, we needed to get a mile race in him. We are very, really high on him.”

The $150,000 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles is part of the buildup to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.

Nolo Contesto was fifth in his debut in a six-furlong maiden race at Del Mar on Dec. 1 after jockey Joel Rosario briefly lost an iron early in the race.

In the maiden win, Nolo Contesto closed from fifth to challenge for the lead in early stretch.

“He waits on horses, but he has a lot of ability,” Sadler said.

A ridgling by Pioneerof the Nile, Nolo Contesto was purchased for $385,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Sadler plans to start Selcourt in the $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs on Sunday as a prep for the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs on Feb. 16.

Selcourt won the Kalookan Queen and Santa Monica Stakes last year, as well as the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes, but was 12th of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 in her first start in seven months. Selcourt has not started since the Breeders’ Cup.

Trainer Bob Baffert has five nominees to the Kalookan Queen, notably Marley’s Freedom, the winner of the Grade 3 Go for Wand Stakes at Aqueduct last month, and Diamondsandpearls, a $1.7 million purchase in 2017 who has won two of three starts.

◗ Jockey Joel Rosario is scheduled to resume riding Thursday after missing last Saturday and Sunday because of flu, according to his agent, Ron Anderson.

Despite missing two days, Rosario was third in the standings with eight wins through Sunday. Flavien Prat leads all riders with 11 wins, two more than apprentice jockey Heriberto Figueroa.

On Thursday’s nine-race program, Rosario is booked to ride six of the nine races.