ARCADIA, Calif. -- Mor Spirit will be making his 3-year-old debut for Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert in the Grade III $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.
It's a chance for Baffert to see how Mor Spirit stacks up in the track's second prep for the Kentucky Derby, along with his other entry Let's Meet in Rio.
Robert B. Lewis stakes
Entries for the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Points for the Kentucky Derby awarded on a 10-4-2-1 basis. Post time 4:09 p.m.
PP HORSE JOCKEY ODDS
1 Let’s Meet in Rio Desormeaux 6-1
2 I Will Score Smith 5-2
3 Dressed in Hermes Bejarano 6-1
4 Laoban Baze 12-1
5 Mor Spirit Stevens 8-5
6 Path of David Talamo 8-1
7 Uncle Lino Perez 5-1
Gary Stevens will be aboard Mor Spirit for the 1 1/16-mile race. Mor Spirit, one of seven entrants, has two victories in four career starts and earnings of $288,400.
Mor Spirit, is a Pennsylvania-bred son of Eskendereya, is known as a ridgling because he has one undescended testicle. Eskendereya was expected to be the posttime favorite for the 2010 Kentucky Derby before being withdrawn with a leg injury.
"He's a big horse and beautifully made," Baffert said. "He's got a really long stride. He'll be best going a mile and an eighth and further."
Baffert's other entry, Kentucky-bred Let's Meet in Rio, will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux. Let's Mett in Rio was a close second in the Grade III Sham Stakes on Jan. 9.
Baffert trained American Pharoah to a sweep of the Triple Crown races last year.
Jerry Hollendorfer will saddle I Will Score, who will be ridden by fellow Hall of Famer Mike Smith.
Sports on 02/06/2016