Last year’s Grade II Robert B. Lewis served as a steppingstone to
superstardom, as I’ll Have Another parlayed his Lewis win to triumphs in
the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies and the Preakness Stakes.
Saturday’s Lewis attracted a field of four, including He’s Had Enough, who like I’ll Have Another, is owned by Reddam Racing, Inc.,
trained by Doug O’Neill and ridden by Mario Gutierrez.
Second, beaten a head by Shanghai Bobby in the Grade I Breeders’
Cup Juvenile on Nov. 3, He’s Had Enough has been idle since running a
well-beaten fifth in the Grade I CashCall Futurity on Dec. 15.
A first-out maiden winner going 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 12 at Del
Mar, He’s Had Enough has broken slowly in three out of his five starts
and has been devoid of early speed in all of his races.
A Kentucky-bred colt by Tapit, He’s Had Enough would benefit
from a lively pace, but that could be problematic, given the short
field. Due primarily to his second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup,
He’s Had Enough sports the biggest Lewis bankroll, with $448,000 in
earnings from a record of 5-1-1-0.
Bob Baffert will saddle likely Lewis favorite, Den’s Legacy, who
comes off a good second, beaten 1 ½ lengths by current Kentucky Derby
points leader Goldencents in the one mile, Grade III Sham Stakes on Jan.
5.
Prior to that, the Florida-bred colt by Medaglia d’Oro finished
third, from far off the pace, in the Grade I CashCall Futurity on Dec.
15. A winner of the Grade III Generous Stakes going one mile on turf
Nov. 24, Den’s Legacy has shown an ample amount of versatility and has
tactical speed, if needed.
With nine starts to his credit, he has more races under his belt
than the rest of the Lewis field, combined. His complete record is
9-2-4-1, with earnings of $281,350.
Baffert will also send out Flashback, who was a flashy first-out
maiden winner going seven furlongs on Dec. 8, cruising to a 4 ¼ length
win over next-out winner Appealing Tie.
Owned by Gary and Mary West, the Kentucky-bred colt by Tapit has
a string of impressive works since his maiden win, including a bullet
five furlong drill of 59.40 on Jan. 28—best of 20 at the distance.
Julien Leparoux will again ride Flashback, who may go to the early lead
in the Lewis.
Trainer Richard Baltas will send out Little Jerry, who was a
first-out maiden winner from well off the pace going 1 1/16 miles on
Nov. 18. After breaking slowly, he was never a factor in his next
assignment, the CashCall Futurity, on Dec. 15. Owned by Jaam Racing
Inc. & Riley Racing Stable, Little Jerry will be ridden by Tyler
Baze, who was up for the maiden score.
The Robert B. Lewis Stakes, to be run as Saturday’s fourth race,
with jockeys and weights in post position order: Little Jerry, Tyler
Baze, 118; Flashback, Julien Leparoux, 118; Den’s Legacy, Garrett Gomez,
120, and He’s Had Enough, Mario Gutierrez, 118.