Punctuate may point to Robert Lewis Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Punctuate was withdrawn from Sunday’s $200,000 San Vicente Stakes after becoming cast in his stall at trainer Bob Baffert’s stable Saturday.

On Saturday, Baffert said Punctuate was not injured in the incident and may not be away from the races for long. He considers the well-bred 3-year-old a candidate for the $150,000 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 7.

“I’ll see how he is,” Baffert said. “I could put him in there.”

Baffert already has the favorite for the Grade 3 Lewis Stakes in Dortmund, the undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 20. Owned by Kaleem Shah, Dortmund is considered a leading contender for the Triple Crown.

The Lewis Stakes is not expected to have a large field. Other candidates include the turf stakes winner Bolo; Firing Line, second to Dortmund in the Los Alamitos Futurity; Rock Shandy and Hero Ten All, who were second and sixth in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on Jan. 10; and Tizcano, fifth in the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3.