Trainer Bob Baffert always holds a special place in his heart for the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, a race named after the late owner of Silver Charm, a Kentucky Derby winner trained by a fellow horseman. On Saturday, Baffert celebrated his eighth consecutive win in this $100,000 race for 3-year-olds with Plutarch, marking his 14th lifetime victory in the event formerly known as the Santa Catalina Stakes until 2007.
Baffert also found emotional significance in Splendora’s victory in the $200,000 Grade 2 race that had been renamed this year to honor the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lucas, a close friend who passed away last summer. “When I saw this race was renamed after D. Wayne Lucas, I knew I wanted to win it,” Baffert shared at Santa Anita. “I miss him and our talks—he would have loved this.”
Splendora, a 5-year-old daughter of Audible, has been winning consistently since last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Filly Sprint, securing her fourth straight victory by two-thirds of a length over Mee and Molly McGee in the seven-furlong contest, clocking in at 1:22.09. Baffert praised her talent and resilience, especially after she stumbled at the start but still managed to come through strongly under jockey Juan Hernandez.
Baffert’s dominance in this race not only honors Lucas’s legacy—it also maintains his lead in the event’s history, with his eighth win placing him two ahead of Lucas, who last triumphed in 1996 with Serena’s Song. The following year, Baffert and Lewis claimed their first Kentucky Derby win with Silver Charm.
It remains uncertain if Plutarch will become another Derby contender, but his pedigree is impressive. Sired by Into Mischief, a top North American stallion for seven years running with offspring like Derby winner Authentic, Plutarch’s dam, Stellar Wind, was a champion 3-year-old filly in 2015. Baffert likened the young horse to Authentic, noting his steady improvement and versatility with distance.
Though Plutarch started his career with four losses, including three stakes, he found his stride last fall, winning his first race at Del Mar and competing on turf to test his limits. During Saturday’s race, Plutarch stayed close behind the fast starter Intrepid, surprising jockey Baffert who had expected the favorite Desert Gate to lead. The two battled down the stretch with Plutarch edging out a three-quarter-length win in 1:37.02, paying $10.20, just ahead of Intrepid and Secured Freedom.
Rider Florent Geroux, new to California racing circuits, praised Plutarch’s responsiveness and growing maturity, saying the colt finally “came on strong this year.” Trainer Jeff Mullins, whose horse Intrepid led early, expressed satisfaction with his runner’s return after a long absence.
By winning, Plutarch earned 20 Kentucky Derby points, tying with Intrepid for third place in the standings with 23 points. Leading the chase are Silent Tactic and Renegades with 25 points each, while approximately 40 points are usually needed to secure a Derby spot.
While one of Baffert’s recent Lewis winners, Medina Spirit, was later disqualified from a Derby win, Baffert’s horses continue to make headlines with performances like Newgate’s Santa Anita Handicap win and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile one-two finish by Nisos and Citizen Bull. Upcoming key races for three-year-olds at Santa Anita include the San Felipe Stakes on March 7 and the Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
In other news, three of the top four finishers from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies will race in the Las Bergenes Stakes on Sunday, including champion Super Corredora. Only Baffert’s Explorer, who won the Santa Ynez Stakes on January 10, has competed since last fall’s event. Sunday’s races will start earlier than usual, with the first post at 11 a.m.
For horse racing fans, Baffert’s latest victories highlight his continued influence on upcoming stars, suggesting an exciting future for the sport’s next generation. If Plutarch lives up to his potential, he could be another thrilling contender who keeps the legacy of great trainers alive and inspires new enthusiasm in racing fans nationwide.
