ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) – Plutarch secured a victory over Intrepid by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, marking trainer Bob Baffert’s eighth consecutive win in races for 3-year-olds and his 14th overall in this category.
Jockey Florent Geroux guided Plutarch to complete the mile in 1:37.02, earning the horse his first stakes win and dirt track victory, with bettors receiving $10.20 for a win.
“I felt he broke very smoothly and positioned me well,” Geroux said. “When I urged him in the stretch, he responded strongly but waited a bit behind the other horse. Once he moved alongside, he really accelerated.”
Intrepid finished second, followed by Secured Freedom in third.
Baffert compared Plutarch to Authentic, the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. “He keeps improving every week, and I don’t think distance will be a problem. This is very promising—he’s the real deal,” Baffert said.
With this win, Plutarch earned 23 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, tying with Intrepid, which helps determine the 20 horses that will compete in the race on May 2.
Another Baffert-trained horse, Desert Gate, was the well-backed 6-5 favorite but finished fourth, while The Cherokee Nation, Baffert’s third contender in the race, came in fifth. “Desert Gate got a poor start, and I knew we were in trouble because he’s very one-dimensional,” Baffert admitted.
Plutarch holds two wins in six career starts and has accumulated over $190,000 in earnings. Two of his races have been on turf, including his first victory on November 30 at Del Mar.
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AP Horse Racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
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Fan Take: This win solidifies Plutarch as a serious contender heading into the Kentucky Derby, highlighting Bob Baffert’s remarkable dominance in 3-year-old races. For horse racing enthusiasts, this adds exciting drama to the upcoming Triple Crown season and showcases new talent that could shape the sport’s future.
