Pioneerof the Nile heads Robert B. Lewis worktab

CashCall Futurity (G1) hero PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker) worked five

furlongs Sunday over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride in :59 2/5 under Garrett Gomez,

gearing up for Saturday's $200,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G2).

After the move, trainer Bob Baffert stated, "He's ready."

Pioneerof the Nile has shown more speed in recent works, but Baffert

attributes that to the colt's misleading stride.

"He was working well before," Baffert said. "Some were faster than I wanted,

but he's very deceiving to the riders because he's got a very long stride and he

covers a lot of ground. He does it effortlessly. They weren't supposed to go

that fast, but he just fools you."

Baffert commented on Pioneerof the Nile's road to the Kentucky Derby (G1),

which begins in the 1 1/16-mile Lewis.

"We're still pretty far out, so right now, we just want to maintain a level

of fitness and conditioning," the trainer said. "He's already punched his ticket to the

Derby. He's made enough (graded) money ($503,250), so I don't

have to worry about that. There's no urgency, so it's good that I can run him

when he's ready. He looks great right now.

"A mile and a sixteenth is not his best distance. Once he goes further, a

mile and an eighth, he's going to be a better horse. He's growing up, he looks

good, and I think he's relaxing more. With age, in the next couple months, he'll

change a lot between now and May."

Asked if the dark bay colt, who is a half-brother to 2007 Jerome H. (G2) and

Swale S. (G2) runner-up Forefathers (Gone West), had mental or physical traits

similar to Baffert's past Derby winners -- Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet

(1998) and War Emblem (2002) -- the trainer said, "Physically, he's still a

little immature. He's a late foal, but I can see a difference in him now. He's

really maturing in his mind. You can't worry about how far he'll run based on

his breeding.

"The important thing is, he handles everything well. He's got a pretty good

foundation, and that's what you want: a foundation."

Grade 3 victor BITTEL ROAD (Stormy Atlantic), a closing fourth to Pioneerof

the Nile in the CashCall Futurity, will get a rematch in the Lewis. The Todd

Pletcher-trained sophomore worked five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 to prepare for

Saturday's race.

Also working for the Lewis, talented sophomore SHAFTED (Mineshaft) stopped the timer in :47 1/5

for a half-mile.

OIL MAN (Ire) (Pyrus), fourth while making his U.S. debut in the Eddie Logan

S., geared up for the Lewis by posting seven furlongs on Santa Anita's firm turf

in 1:28 2/5.