Baffert entered three in the Lewis, a race for which he won a record 14 times, including the past eight consecutive years. Desert Gate had the best credentials of the Baffert trio and went away as 6-5 favorite. Desert Gate pulled the rail and missed the break.
“He’s so one-dimensional and he needs to be in charge,” Baffert said. “When he missed the break, I knew there was no chance after that.”
Safe freedom a recent impressive first winner for trainer Tim Yaakteen and the 3-1 second choice, also came a step too late away from the outside post. The five runners in between rushed to the front, including Plutarchus, who had never taken an early lead before. Fearless winner of last year’s American Pharoah Stakes (G1) over Desert Gate and Plutarch, set the first fraction of :23.49 at a quarter-mile, but Plutarch surged forward to take over and was responsible for the other internal times, including a half-mile in :47.65.
“I felt he broke very alert for me and put me in a great spot,” said jockey Florent Geroux. “When I asked him to go around the track, he responded very well.”
Intrepido never let Plutarch get too far ahead, and Geroux attributed some of that to Plutarch waiting “a little bit.” Be that as it may, both runners bravely stuck to their task. They returned home, still fighting each other, and as Intrepido tried to pass Plutarch, the Baffert colt refused to let him pass. Plutarch moved further away to win by three-quarters of a length, the largest margin he had all race at Intrepido, stopping the timer in 1:37.02.
Secured Freedom recovered enough from its start to make a late run and fly out of Desert Gate for third place.
The Lewis is offering entry points for the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1). Churchill Downs. Plutarch earned 20, on top of the 3 he earned when he finished third in the American Pharoah. Intrepido added 10 to his previously earned 13 points, while Secured Freedom earned 6 and Desert Gate added 5 to the 4 he got from American Pharoah. Cherokee Nation Baffert’s third runner and still a girl, finished fifth, earning 2 points, plus 1 point he received when finishing fifth in last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2).
Heading into the Kentucky Derby points standings
Baffert praised the efforts his team has made with Plutarch, a son of In mischief who races for the Coolmore connections of Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor.
“We spent so much time on this horse, he was so immature,” Baffert said. ‘He reminds me a bit of Authentic in a sense he is developing slowly, but he is getting better every week. He has a great mind. He’ll figure it out.”
Last year it took Plutarch five tries to get his first, although he always showed promise, finishing second in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes (G3T), third in the American Pharoah and third in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes. After these three bets, Plutarch walked away as an even-money favorite in a first event on November 30 on the lawn of Sea and eventually recorded that first victory, by an emphatic 4 1/2 lengths.
Baffert had tried a litany of top jockeys on Plutarch, and for the Lewis he turned to Geroux.
“I called Flo the other day, he was thinking about coming here,” Baffert said. “I told him, ‘Come over here. I have one I can put you on. I think he’s a very good colt.’ I’ve been very lucky with Flo. We did well in Kentucky. He is sharp; he is a top driver.”
Geroux added: “When I came here, I honestly expected to find a Derby horse. Bob is a great trainer and he has won the Derby six times. So the record book speaks for itself. To have the opportunity to ride for him is just a great honor.”
Plutarch was bred in Kentucky to Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt and is a 2015 Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Stellar wind . That daughter of Curl made her reputation in Southern California under the tutelage of John Sadler until MV Magnier purchased her late in her racing career for $6 million at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Stellar Wind made one final start, for trainer Chad Brown under the same ownership as Plutarch, before retiring. She has produced three winners from four starters.
Plutarch follows Commandment And Defector who previously won the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday Tampa Bay Downsas the third stakes winner of 2026, sire of In mischiefseven times the leading overall sire. The stallion is listed for $250,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington for the 2026 season.
Video: Robert B. Lewis S. (G3)
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