Robert B. Lewis Stakes

Road to the Kentucky Derby > Robert B. Lewis Stakes

Robert B Lewis Stakes Race Facts

Location: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA
Inaugural Race: 1935
Distance: 1 mile (8 furlongs)
Track Type: Left-handed, Dirt
Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
Status: Grade 3
2024 Purse: $200,000
2024 Race Date: Saturday, February 3rd

The Robert B. Lewis Stakes held at Santa Anita Racecourse in Arcadia, California boasts of early February points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The allocation for the top five finishers is 20-10-6-4-2 points.

2024 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Race Results

6	Nysos	Flavien Prat / Bob Baffert	$2.20 / $2.10 / $2.10
1	Wine Me Up	Juan J. Hernandez / Bob Baffert	$3.60 / $2.20
9	Scatify	Hector Isaac Berrios / John W. Sadler	$2.40
8	Mc Vay	Umberto Rispoli / John A. Shirreffs
4	Moonlit Sonata	Geovanni Franco / Tim Yakteen
3	Better Than Gold	Mike E. Smith / Gary Mandella
2	Ace of Clubs	Edwin A. Maldonado / Doug F. O'Neill

Exotic Payoffs:

$1 Exacta (6-1) Paid: $2.50
$1 Trifecta (6-1-9) Paid: $6.10
$0.10 Superfecta (6-1-9-8) Paid: $2.68

Watch the 2024 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

History of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes

The Robert B. Lewis Stakes is a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race held annually in late January or early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. The race is open to 3-year-olds and is the second Derby prep at Santa Anita to start the New Year. The race is held at Santa Anita Racecourse in Arcadia, California boasts of early February points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The allocation for the top five finishers is 20-10-6-4-2 points. The Grade III race at 1 mile (8 furlongs) has a current purse of $200,000 and is also a key prep race for the Santa Anita Derby in early April.

The Robert B. Lewis stakes was originally called the Santa Catalina Handicap in 1935. In 2007, it was renamed to honor the prominent racehorse owner and philanthropist who died in 2006.

The speed record (at 1 1/16 miles) race is 1:40.76 set by Crown of Thoms in 2008. Jockeys Bill Shoemaker and Laffit Pincay Jr. have both won the race a record seven times, with their last wins coming in 1988 and 1989 respectively. Bob Baffert, who was the regular trainer for Lewis, has won the race a record twelve times. His most recent win came in 2024, his sixth victory in a row!

Notable winners of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes include Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand (1986, Bill Shoemaker), Sham (1973 when Laffit Pincay, Jr. won the race a third straight time), Dortmund (2015, trainer Bob Baffert), Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another (2012), and Pioneer of the Nile (2009 with the late Garrett Gomez riding for Bob Baffert). Pioneer of the Nile finished 2nd in the Kentucky Derby and was the sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Other Robert B. Lewis Stakes winners that also won the Santa Anita Derby include: Sham (1973), An Act (1976), Larry the Legend (1995), General Challenge (1999), The Deputy (2000), Brother Derek (2006) and I’ll Have Another (2012).

Bob and Beverly Lewis were generally beloved and admired, and they graced the sports with a rare brand of dignity and class. The race named in Bob’s honor represents his wisdom, class and character, and his love for the sport, California racing and the Kentucky Derby.