Study Guide: 2025 Robert B. Lewis Stakes
Jan 29, 2025
Citizen Bull wins the American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita (Photo by Benoit Photo)
A small but strong field has turned out for Saturday’s $200,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita, a one-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.
The Robert B. Lewis has produced a trio of Kentucky Derby (G1) winners since the 1980s, most recently I’ll Have Another in 2012.
Let’s check out the field for the 2025 Robert B. Lewis:
Madaket Road
Madaket Road wins at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: SF Bloodstock
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $56,000
Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Frolic’s Dream
Color: Gray/roan
Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Robert B. Lewis 12 times, including the last six in a row. He’s entered three horses in the 2025 edition, including Madaket Road. The gray colt debuted with a runner-up finish in the seven-furlong Bob Hope (G3) before winning a six-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita. He’ll stretch out around two turns for the first time in the Robert B. Lewis and has a strong chance to finish in the top three.
Citizen Bull
Citizen Bull wins at Del Mar (Photo by Benoit Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Robert Low and Lawana Low
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia
Top Speed Rating: (107) when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $1,301,000
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: No Joke
Color: Bay
The second Baffert trainee is Citizen Bull, the champion two-year-old male of 2024 after winning the American Pharoah (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in succession. Citizen Bull has cranked out an impressive series of fast workouts in preparation for the Robert B. Lewis and should be tough to beat in his three-year-old debut.
🐂 Citizen Bull wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile!
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 2, 2024
Rodriguez
Rodriguez wins at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Kingswood Farm and David Egan
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $46,800
Sire: Authentic
Dam: Cayala
Color: Dark bay/brown
If any horse can conquer Citizen Bull, it’s likely Rodriguez, the third Baffert trainee. After finishing second in his debut sprinting against future San Vicente (G2) runner-up Romanesque, Rodriguez stretched out for a one-mile maiden special weight and led all the way to dominate by seven lengths. That runaway win yielded a sharp 97 Brisnet Speed rating, and two strong workouts since then suggest Rodriguez is ready for a strong showing in his stakes debut.
Clock Tower
Clock Tower (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 2
Owner: Mrs. Fitriani Hay
Breeder: Clarkland Farm
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales
Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing second in a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $225,938
Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Hot Stones
Color: Dark bay/brown
Both of Clock Tower’s wins have come on turf, including a gate-to-wire triumph in the one-mile Cecil B. DeMille (G3) two months ago. But Clock Tower has also run fine in two dirt starts, finishing second and third in maiden special weights at Saratoga and Churchill Downs. Challenging Citizen Bull and Rodriguez in the early stages of the Robert B. Lewis won’t be easy for Clock Tower, who has set the pace in all five of his starts. But he’s a logical choice to finish in the top three if one of the Baffert trainees should falter.
Valentines Candy
Start(s): 9
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Dale Brewer
Breeder: Rancho San Miguel
Trainer: Jesus Mendoza
Jockey: Welfin Orantes
Top Speed Rating: (72) when winning a Los Alamitos $50,000 maiden claimer for California-breds.
Total Earnings: $30,640
Sire: Danzing Candy
Dam: Ancient Holiday
Color: Dark bay/brown
Valentines Candy has competed exclusively against fellow California breds, most notably winning a $50,000 maiden claimer at Los Alamitos. He’ll need to improve upon his career-best 72 Brisnet Speed rating to challenge against tougher competition in the Robert B. Lewis.
Kentucky Derby week, spring meet tickets go on sale Thursday (Jan 30, 2025) at noon!
2025 Kentucky Derby week special events:
- Opening Night: The Great Gatsby, A Louisville Legacy | Saturday, April 26
- Dawn at the Downs Dining | Sunday, April 27 and Monday, April 28
- 502’sDay: Celebrating Ali, Louisville’s Greatest | Wednesday, April 30
- Thurby / Taste of Derby | Thursday, May 1
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