Kentucky Derby 2018 trail: Lombo wires the Robert B. Lewis

On a 2018 Kentucky Derby trail loaded with runners from big barns, Lombo proved to be an exception Saturday in Santa Anita Park’s Grade 3, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes.

A Jan. 20 maiden winner for trainer Mike Pender, he ran back quickly and went wire to wire in the 1 1/16-mile Lewis, largely unchallenged after turning back a a trio of pace pressers into the turn.

"He didn't get keen at all," Pender said. "He was kind of just running off down the backside, and I said, 'He took the breather. It's over.'"

Dark Vader, second after an opening half mile in 47.26 seconds, was the only front-runner still in the picture by the time Lombo hit the wire. Surging Ayacara, a British-bred, passed him late for the place.

The favorite, Peace, missed the board.

It was a wide-open affair, with multiple maidens and no previous stakes winners in the field of nine. Lombo graduated under jockey Flavien Prat, getting the distance in 1:41.41 for owner Michael Lombardi.

"He's been galloping two miles a day just like that," Pender said. "I knew he had plenty of air. He started getting a little rubber-legged there at the 16th pole. Ayacara was starting to make up some ground. But he made it. He got it."

It took the Graydar colt three races to break his maiden. Notably, a change in tactics to sit him more forward in his last two starts have paid off.

As for what's next, Pender said, "Let's cherish this win for now, and we'll look at what's coming up down the road. But we love the Santa Anita program. We support Santa Anita. I'd absolutely love to keep him here at home."