2022 Kentucky Derby trail: Robert B. Lewis Stakes odds, preview
Just more than 12 months ago, Bob Baffert saddled Medina Spirit to a win in Santa Anita’s 2021 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. That propelled the late colt toward the Kentucky Derby, where his upset score was soon clouded by a positive drug test that led to Baffert’s runners being ineligible for the 2022 Derby.
Now one year later, Baffert returns to the Grade 3, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes with favorite Messier (6-5) and Wharton (4-1). They and three other 3-year-old colts will go 1 1/16 miles at 7:12 p.m. EST, with TVG showing the race live from Santa Anita.
The Lewis awards Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby points on a 10-4-2-1 basis. Messier and Wharton are ineligible for those points because of Baffert's two-year suspension from Churchill Downs properties.
SF Racing and Starlight Racing lead an ownership group that campaigns Messier, an Empire Maker colt. He won Del Mar’s Bob Hope Stakes (G3) in his third start and was second most recently to Slow Down Andy in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) on Dec. 11.
Messier capped his training for this race with a five-furlong move Jan. 30 at Santa Anita in 59.4 seconds, fastest of 72 works at the distance. Jockey John Velazquez takes over the mount after Flavien Prat was aboard for his last three starts.
Prat will ride Sir London (9-5), a third-out Los Al maiden winner Dec. 4, for trainer Simon Callaghan. Wharton won on debut New Year’s Eve at Santa Anita. Doug O’Neill trains Happy Jack (6-1), who wheels back off a local debut score Jan. 22. Cabo Spirit (8-1) joins the Derby trail for trainer George Papaprodromou after winning Santa Anita’s Eddie Logan Stakes on Jan. 2.
The Robert B. Lewis is the second of four points-paying preps toward the Kentucky Derby that Santa Anita offers during its winter-spring meet. It follows the Sham Stakes (G3) and precedes the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2, 50-20-10-5) on March 5 and the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1, 100-40-20-10) on April 9.
Medina Spirit was the third winner of the Lewis, formerly the Santa Catalina Stakes, to take the Kentucky Derby. The others were Ferdinand (1986) and I’ll Have Another (2012).
Here is a look at the field for the 2022 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (trainer and jockey in parentheses) with morning-line odds:
1. Messier (Bob Baffert, John Velazquez), 6-5
2. Sir London (Simon Callaghan, Flavien Prat), 9-5
3. Cabo Spirit (George Papaprodromou, Victor Espinoza), 8-1
4. Wharton (Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez), 4-1
5. Happy Jack (Doug O’Neill, Abel Cedillo), 6-1
TimeformUS’ pace projections forecast Wharton going out to a slight lead over Sir London, with favorite Messier sitting fourth of five early.
Road to the Kentucky Derby top 10
1. Pappacap, 14 points
2. Epicenter, 14
3. White Abarrio, 12
4. Mo Donegal, 12
5. Rattle N Roll, 10
6. Jack Christopher, 10
7. Make It Big, 10
8. Smile Happy, 10
9. Slow Down Andy, 10
10. Major General, 10
Related: White Abarrio wins Gulfstream’s Holy Bull |
Early Voting wires Aqueduct’s Withers
Other Sunday stakes
Here is a look at the only other graded-stakes race taking place Sunday, also at Santa Anita and broadcast on TVG.
Related: Sunday plays: Play favorites in Las Virgenes, Lewis
4:34 p.m. EST – $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G3), 3-year-old fillies, one mile
Adare Manor (6-5), a third-out maiden winner Jan. 7 at Santa Anita, is favored for this Road to the 2022 Kentucky Oaks qualifier that pays Oaks points on a 10-4-2-1 basis. Jockey John Velazquez will ride the Uncle Mo filly trained by Bob Baffert, whose Churchill Downs suspension renders Adare Manor and stablemate Eda (9-5) are ineligible for those Oaks points. Eda made six starts as a 2-year-old, highlighted by a Starlet Stakes (G1) score Dec. 4 at Los Alamitos. Queen of Thorns (5-2) was a local debut winner New Year’s Day for trainer Peter Eurton.
Related: Queen of Thorns exceeds Eurton's expectations