Desert Gate tops Baffert trio in Robert B. Lewis

Unraced since a close second in the American Pharoah (G1), Desert Gate will return to the races in Saturday’s $100,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita. The Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge series qualifier offers a total of 42 qualifying points (20-10-6-4-2 scale), and Desert Gate has been installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite among seven three-year-olds in the mile event.

The Grade 3 winner leads a trio for six-time Kentucky Derby winner and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who will seek to extend his Lewis record to 14 wins, capturing the last seven editions via Citizen Bull, Nysos, Newgate, Messier, Medina Spirit, Thousand Words, and Mucho Gusto. Juan Hernandez will retain the mount on Desert Gate, who will break from the innermost post.

To his immediate outside in the starting gate are stablemates Plutarch and Cherokee Nation. 

Third in the American Pharoah, Plutarch switched to turf for his next two outings, breaking his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths last time out, and Florent Geroux will pick up the mount on the 4-1 third choice. Cherokee Nation remains a maiden, narrowly missing in second in his last two attempts versus maiden special weight competition. But he does own stakes experience, finishing fifth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) two back. The son of Not This Time is listed at 5-1 with Antonio Fresu.

American Pharoah winner Intrepido has been pegged as the early 7-2 second choice. Trained by Jeff Mullins, the bay ridgling will look to rebound from a disappointing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in which he didn’t break well, and Hector Berrios has the call.

Last-out maiden scorers Secured Freedom and Robusta are also entered, along with outsider Briggs Armypower, a three-time winner at Arapahoe Park.