Stevens to ride Firing Line in Robert B. Lewis

ARCADIA, Calif. – Firing Line, second to Dortmund in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 20, will be ridden by Gary Stevens in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds on Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park.

Trainer Simon Callaghan made the announcement on Twitter last weekend. On Wednesday, Callaghan said previous Grade 1 wins for his stable with Stevens on Fashion Plate and Byrama were a factor in the decision. Firing Line races for Arnold Zetcher.

“This time of year, in these 3-year-old races, there is no one with more experience than Gary really,” Callaghan said. “He’s been lucky for me. Gary is riding exceptionally well at the moment.”

Mike Smith rode Firing Line in his first two starts, including a maiden win at Del Mar. Smith rode Mr. Z to a third-place finish in the Los Alamitos Futurity after Zetcher and Callaghan made a late decision to run at Los Alamitos, leaving the mount aboard Firing Line to Rafael Bejarano. Smith is booked to ride Bolo in the Lewis Stakes.

Callaghan said the tentative plan is for Firing Line to run in the Lewis Stakes and the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

“We’re keeping everything good with him,” he said. “We couldn’t be happier with the way he’s doing.”

Dortmund, also a candidate for the Lewis, worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds Wednesday for trainer Bob Baffert.