Tipsheet: 2024 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

Conditioner Bob Baffert will saddle three of the nine contenders for Saturday’s fantastic $200,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa Anita. 

Robert B. Lewis Stakes Picks

• #6 Nysos
• #1 Wine Me Up
• #5 Coach Prime

Robert B. Lewis Stakes Wagers

• $40 win #6 Nysos
• $10 trifecta key 6 with 1,5
• $.50-cent superfecta 6 with 1,5 with 1,3,5,7,8 with 1,3,5,7,8

Robert B. Lewis Stakes Contenders

#1 WINE ME UP: Speedy sort from the Baffert shedrow gets a fine draw on the rail and will likely try to take this cast all the way on the front end in this one. The $300,000 son of Vino Rosso finished a decent fourth in the recent Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) but will have a more favorable pace scenario to work with on Saturday. Juan Hernandez will be in the silks. 

#2 ACE OF CLUBS: Outsider from the Doug O’Neill shedrow has yet to prove capable of running well at this level and will need big improvement coming off of a fifth in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). The Mor Spirit colt would be a surprise with Edwin Maldonado in the silks. 

#3 BETTER THAN GOLD: Nyquist colt showed marked improvement in his second career assignment when rallying to graduate over a nice field at Del Mar last time out. The $290,000 purchase earned a hefty Brisnet Late Pace number in that endeavor and will be moving as well as most in the latter stages of the race beneath Mike Smith. 

#4 MOONLIT SONATA: Tim Yakteen pupil was a fine first-out winner at Del Mar but showed little in the subsequent San Vicente S. (G2) on this surface last time out. This Malibu Moon colt might appreciate the extra distance in the heat, but others have more appeal in the deep field. Geovanni Franco will be up. 

#5 COACH PRIME: $1.7 million yearling purchase has registered a pair of big runs on the dirt in succession and will race with blinkers off on this occasion. The bay son of Quality Road is a top prospect with room for improvement, and if he takes to the equipment change, then the Zedan color bearer will be an imposing figure in the stretch of the contest. Frankie Dettori inherits the ride atop the late runner. 

#6 NYSOS: Nyquist colt has been spectacular from a pair of career engagements to this stage of his development for Baffert. The $550,000 juvenile purchase has earned 102 Brisnet Speed figures in both lifetime runs to date while winning by a combined 18 3/4 lengths, and the move to the one-mile trip seems well within his scope, as well. The Kentucky bred has trained swiftly as of late and will be forcing the pace early on. 

#7 STRONGHOLD: Phil D’Amato pupil has been consistently good from four career tilts led by a close second in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in his most recent outing. The Ghostzapper homebred has been first or second in each of his quartet of performances leading up to this one, and he will don blinkers for the initial time in this spot. Antonio Fresu will have the contender forwardly placed throughout. 

#8 MCVAY: John Shirreffs trainee finished a clear runner-up behind a fine maiden winner in his second assignment and figures to enjoy the move to two turns on this occasion. The dark bay son of Constitution, who brought $1.25 million as a yearling, has been training well this season and could be an exotics player inside the final furlong if the pace players back up in the lane. Umberto Rispoli will be in the silks. 

#9 SCATIFY: $120,000 yearling buy looked good in graduating at Los Al on debut but faces a major class hike on the stretch out from the outside post slot. This John Sadler trainee is bred for the voyage and also posted a bullet six panels in advance of Saturday, but others have more appeal to me at this stage of his development.