Santa Anita: Betting superfectas in the Robert B. Lewis

An elite field of Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders will face off in Saturday’s $100,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.

Eight horses have been entered, including six who have earned qualification points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Lewis will award points to the top four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 basis, so there’s a lot more at stake than purse money.

Although the race looks  competitive, the superfecta appears winnable on a modest budget.

Let’s sort the main contenders into four categories and put together a series of tickets on a $30 budget.

Top choice

#1 Medina Spirit ran a huge race when he finished second in the Sham (G3) four weeks ago. Facing early Kentucky Derby favorite Life Is Good, Medina Spirit tracked the pace, then showed remarkable resilience to rally down the homestretch and miss by just three-quarters of a length.

The effort produced a 97 Brisnet Speed rating, and Medina Spirit is bred to improve with maturity, so I’m optimistic he’ll take another step forward Saturday for eight-time Robert B. Lewis-winning trainer Bob Baffert.

Second choice

#4 Hot Rod Charlie has improved by leaps and bounds since his connections added blinkers and he stretched out around two turns on dirt.

The son of Oxbow battled to a runner-up effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), where he was beaten less than a length by two-time Grade 1 winner Essential Quality.

Considering Hot Rod Charlie rallied early, into the teeth of a hot pace, you can argue he ran a better race than the winner. Another top-three finish is well within reach Saturday.

Exotic players

#8 Spielberg warrants respect, after he battled to victory in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), especially when you consider runner-up The Great One returned to break his maiden by 14 lengths.

But Spielberg has been a hit-or-miss type, and with six starts under his belt, he might have less upside than stablemate Medina Spirit.

#7 Wipe the Slate finished second, behind Life Is Good, in their debut, then returned to break his maiden at Santa Anita by 3 1/4 lengths.

A son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, Wipe the Slate has tactical speed and figures to enjoy a forwardly placed trip in his route debut.

Fringe contenders

#2 Rombauer rallied belatedly to finish fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, after he rated far off the early pace. He previously finished ahead of Spielberg in the American Pharoah (G1), but a spot on the board might be the best this stretch-running colt can hope for.

#3 Parnelli ran below expectations when he finished third in the Sham, 13 lengths behind Medina Spirit.

But the John Shirreffs trainee came within a neck of beating Spielberg and Hot Rod Charlie in separate 1-mile maiden races on the California circuit, which indicates the son of Quality Road has the ability to compete at this level.

The tickets

$2 superfecta: 1 with 4 with 7,8 with 2,3,7,8 ($12)
$2 superfecat: 1 with 7,8 with 4 with 2,3,7,8 ($12)
$1 superfecta: 1 with 4 with 2,3,7,8 with 7,8 ($6)
Total: $30

Good luck!