Robert B. Lewis J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

CashCall Futurity (G1) victor PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker) is the

marquee attraction in Saturday's Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) at Santa Anita, but we're going to

take a chance at upsetting the sure favorite in this 1 1/16-mile test.

PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike) was flattered when the horse he topped in his maiden

win, Mayor Marv (Distorted Humor), came back to win a subsequent tilt. The

well-bred bay could be the speed of the race, and he

showed nice improvement when stretching out past a sprint distance for the

initial time for Gary Stute. We love Rafael Bejarano, so we're taking a chance with the

likely outsider.

BITTEL ROAD (Stormy Atlantic) was a good fourth in the CashCall, making a

late run into a tepid pace, and the Todd Pletcher trainee should benefit a good

deal with the rail draw in this test. The sophomore bagged the Bourbon S. (G3)

and With Anticipation S. as a freshman on the lawn and finished well to be

second in the Generous S. (G3) at Hollywood two back. We hold this one in high

regard and give him a big chance for the win under John Velazquez.

Pioneerof the Nile makes a ton of sense in here and is reportedly working

great for trainer Bob Baffert in preparation for this. The talented dark bay will

run all day and has good tactical speed which will keep him in range throughout

under Garrett Gomez. Call it a hunch if you will, but we're not crazy about the

post he received and we find him slightly vulnerable at short odds in here. Baffert doesn't like to crank them up too much in the winter, so we'll hope this

one is a bit short.

I WANT REVENGE (Stephen Got Even) ran about as well as a horse could in

defeat in the CashCall for Jeff Mullins, rallying well to just miss under Joe

Talamo. We know Mullins loves this one and he's really moved up when attempting

two turns, so he's another contender in this deep field. Note that he adds

blinkers this time.

CHARLIE'S MOMENT (Indian Charlie) is a very consistent runner for conditioner

Walther Solis who will almost surely be overlooked in here. The dark bay was a

useful third in the Real Quiet S. and has trained well in advance of this, so

we'll throw him in our vertical plays at big odds.

OIL MAN (Ire) (Pyrus) had some hype surrounding him prior to the Eddie Logan

S., where he closed for fourth, and the John Sadler trainee could move up in his

second start in the United States. The bay colt finished unplaced in his lone all-weather

effort, but we'd be willing to overlook that since it was his debut. We can't

put him on top, but we can include him at a price.

BROTHER KEITH (Johar) might be the key to the race, since the Bobby Frankel charge

is one of only two with any early foot in the race. A smart maiden winner in his

debut, the chestnut was a mess in the San Rafael S. (G3) last out, throwing his

head and drifting out early, and one must view the race as a throw-out. Gomez

opts with the favorite in here, but we haven't given up hope on this one just

yet. Tyler Baze will guide the exotics threat.

SHAFTED (Mineshaft) rolled to an impressive allowance tally over this strip

last out and looks like an interesting prospect for Mark Casse. The sophomore

colt is bred to be good and he's done well to this point, but his lack of early

speed and low BRIS Speed numbers, make him hard to suggest on this day.

MARK S THE COOLER (Johar) was visually impressive in a recent maiden win on

the lawn, but the Doug O'Neill charge hasn't shown much on the all-weather to

this point.